1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar
One of the most popular portions of the expansive Morgan Silver Dollar series to collect are those issues from the Carson City Mint. This famous mint in Nevada was established to mint coins from the silver of the Comstock Lode, with coins struck from 1870 to 1893 in gold and silver.
The silver dollars were struck from 1870 to 1885 and 1889-1893. Many of these issues had low mintages, however large quantities survived in government vaults. These were released within a large auction sale held in the 1970′s, which makes them very available considering their original production levels. The few exceptions are rarities of the series.
The rarest Carson City issue is the 1889-CC Morgan Dollar. This coin had a total mintage of 350,000, however it is estimated that only a portion of this amount was actually released. The remainder were presumably melted soon after their mintage. Furthermore, no hoard quantities surfaced at later points in time.
This remains one of the well known keys of the entire series and presents a challenge for anyone seeking to acquire a full collection or a subset of the Carson City coins. The values range from a low of $1,750 in VF-20, to a high of more than half a million for the finest known example graded MS68.
Key Date Coin Stats:
- Series: Morgan Dollars
- Date: 1889
- Mint: Carson City
- Mintage: 350,000
- Values: $1,750 (VF-20) to $500,000+ (finest known MS68)
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1796 Draped Bust Quarter
The first quarters struck in the United States also have the distinction of being a famous classic rarity and key issue for type set collectors.
After previously producing the half disme, silver dollar, and half dollar, the United States Mint produced the first quarter dollars in 1796. The similar draped bust obverse design was used along with the small eagle reverse design. After this first year of production, no more quarters would be struck until 1804, by then the reverse design featuring a heraldic eagle was adopted. As such, the 1796 quarter became a one year type coin.
Besides this curious status as the first of its denomination and the only coin for its type, this coin also had a low mintage of 6,146 pieces. This mintage was spread over two different die varieties noted by specialists. The reason for the low mintage and gap in production had to do with the production practices of the early mint. Coins were struck with precious metals provided by depositors. It was generally preferable for the larger half dollars and silver dollars to be struck, and within commerce the smaller dimes and half dismes were more prevalent. This left the quarter dollar was limited demand.
The value of the 1796 quarter dollar ranges from a low of about $7,000 for a well circulated piece. Choice AU coins can sell for $50,000 or more. The finest known example graded PCGS MS67 may be worth more than $1 million.
Key Date Coin Stats:
- Series: Draped Bust Quarters
- Date: 1796
- Mint: Philadelphia
- Mintage: 6,146
- Values: $7,000 (AG-3) to $1,000,000+ (Finest Known)
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1894-S Barber Dime
Was one of the great rarities of American coinage spent to buy ice cream? This is one of the many stories surrounding the famous 1894-S Barber Dime.
The account books of the San Francisco Mint list a total mintage of just 24 dimes produced for the 1894. All of these appear to be proof or specimen strikings, with the precise reason for their production unknown. Surviving examples today include a confirmed nine or possibly ten specimens. Eight are in proof or impaired proof condition, while two are circulated.
There are two primary theories about the production of the 1894-S Barber Dime. First, the coins might have been struck to balance the books at the San Francisco Mint, which were off by an alleged 40 cents. The fact that the coins were struck in proof and did not have a face value of 40 cents does not support this theory. The second theory is that the Superintendent of the Mint struck the coins to give to high ranking bankers, with three pieces given to his daughter.
Hallie Daggett, the daughter of the Superintendent gave a first hand account of immediately spending one of the dimes on ice cream. The other two were sold to a California coin dealers in 1954.
Key Date Coin Stats:
- Series: Barber Dimes
- Date: 1894
- Mint: San Francisco
- Mintage: 24
- Values: $1.9 million (NGC PF 66 Stack specimen)
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1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar
The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar holds an important and historic place in the history of coinage and the United States. It represented the first silver dollar to be struck for the young nation, and with a relatively small mintage, it has long been recognized as one of the great rarities of numismatics.
Under the coinage act of 1792, the United States established the dollar as the unit of currency and authorized the production of ten different coins ranging from the half cent to the eagle, which carried a value of $10. The silver dollars were minted for the first time in October 1794. It has been suggested that originally 2,000 pieces were struck, however the number eventually released to the public was 1,758.
Of this number originally released, perhaps 135 to 150 examples still exist for today’s collectors. Due to their rarity and status as the first U.S. silver dollar, the pieces always bring a great deal of excitement. The finest known 1794 Silver Dollar, which some believe to be the actual first silver dollar struck in the United States, sold for $7.85 million in the summer of 2010. This represents not only the highest price paid for a silver dollar, but also the highest price paid for any coin.
Even low grade examples in “About Good” are valued at $35,000.
Key Date Coin Stats:
- Series: Flowing Hair Dollars
- Date: 1794
- Mint: Philadelphia
- Mintage: 1,75800
- Values: $35,000 (About Good-4) to $7,850,000 (SP-66 in 2010)
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1877 Indian Head Cent
Viewed as rare since the late nineteenth century, the 1877 Indian Head Cent is considered t be the key date coin of the respective series. Despite the fact that this issue does not have the lowest mintage overall, it has the fewest surviving examples for collectors of today.
At the time of mintage, the US Mint was actively redeeming cents from the public. Because of the combination of widespread hoarding during the years of the Civil War and the legal tender limit for the coins, the public was redeeming the small denomination coins in quantity. In 1877, nearly ten million cents were redeemed and reissued, leaving little reason to strike the 1877 Indian Head Cent in quantity.
The reported mintage was 852,500, but the fact that so few examples survive lead many to believe that the mintage figure was incorrect, or that the entire amount was not released into circulation, but held at the Mint and subsequently melted. Whatever the case, the 1877 cent has achieved status of a key date coin.
Values range from $900 for a well worn piece grading Good-4 to a price realized of $149,500 for one of the finest known examples graded MS66RD.
Key Date Coin Stats:
- Series: Indian Head Cents
- Date: 1877
- Mint: Philadelphia
- Mintage: 852,500
- Values: $900 (Good-4) to $149,500 (MS66RD in 2007)
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