1893-S $1 Morgan Silver Dollar NGC VF30 (CAC)

With its mintage of 100,000, the smallest of the entire Morgan dollar series, this issue is considered the “King of the Morgan Dollars.” NGC has graded 719 examples as VF30, with 716 finer. Collectors Universe gives the “King” a price of $8,500.00 in VF30. In CAC, there are 51 pieces graded VF30 that carry the desirable green sticker, with 158 finer. CAC gives this issue a price of $9,900.00 in VF30.

George T. Morgan, who designed and engraved the silver dollar series that has been named after him.

Paul Green, writing in Numismatic News, has a unique take on this issue: "Basically the 1893-S has become an extraordinary Morgan dollar the old-fashioned way: by being very low mintage and by not being saved. It appears to not have been heavily melted or hoarded. It simply acted like a coin, which, in the case of many Morgans, was somewhat unusual. As a Morgan dollar that acted like a coin, it certainly deserves some recognition but because it is scarce and the key Morgan in most grades, it will get even more attention than normal." David Bowers says the 1893 San Francisco issue “is the object of great desire in the Morgan dollar series. No single issue has greater popularity across the board.” When the Treasury Department released Morgan dollars from storage from 1962 to 1964, no bags or small groups were found, but many individual pieces were uncovered in circulated grades.