1885-S $1 Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS MS64+ (CAC)

Low mintage (1.5 million) issue of the Morgan dollar series. Many were put directly into circulation or were improperly stored in bags, resulting in many bag marked coins. However, this sparkling near-gem did not suffer that fate. PCGS graded 124 in MS64+ with 811 finer. Its superior quality is documented with its CAC sticker. In CAC there are 267 in MS64/64+ with only 75 finer.

The Old San Francisco Mint, which survived the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, where this sparkling example was struck.

David Bowers writes,

While the 1885-S remained plentiful, it was scarce in relation to some of the Morgan dollar varieties that had flooded the market from the 1962-1964 release. Writing in The Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook in 1962, Wayne Miller stated this: "The 1885-S is still available in large quantities." However, he told of two groups of 15 rolls each, or 600 coins - hardly a "large quantity" in comparison to such issues as 1879-S, 1880-S, 1881-S, etc., which commonly traded in bags. Miller also gave details of a 1978 hoard of 35 to 40 rolls (700 to 800 coins), virtually all of which were of mediocre quality. "Not one coin could be called a gem."

Mint State grades: The typical Mint State 1885-S dollar is frosty and has many bagmarks. Most are average to below average strikes, with weakly defined details at the center of the obverse and, especially, on the eagle's breast on the reverse. Most Uncirculated pieces are in lower grades such as MS-60 through 62 or 63. MS-64 specimens are on the scarce side; probably about 4,000 to 8,000 survive. In the context of Morgan dollars, MS-65 coins are rare, and only about 1,000 to 2,000 exist.