1894-O $1 MS DMPL

Key to Collecting: Mint State examples of the 1894-O dollar are often wretched in appearance. Is there hope? Yes, there is, but a great deal of searching will be needed to find an example that is decent or above average (but not sharp) in striking details and with attractive luster—a cherrypicker’s challenge and delight. Probably the best way is to view coins certified as MS-63 and MS-64, with patience, and see what happens. The luster is often nice on higher-grade pieces, if that’s a help. Or, you can give up and buy a worn specimen, saving both time and money.

Surface Quality: The strike is usually below average. Diligent searching is needed to ferret out a piece with excellent detail. Luster is typically satiny and attractive on higher-grade pieces (which are elusive), dull on lower-grade ones.

Prooflike Coins: Prooflike coins are elusive, and when encountered are apt to be of low contrast, bagmarked, and unattractive.

Mintage and Distribution: Delivery figures by month: January–June, 0; July, 263,000; August, 400,000; September, 360,000; October, 300,000; November, 250,000; December, 150,000. Although few accounts exist of Treasury payouts of 1894-O dollars, the variety was not in great demand, possibly because of the poor appearance of most pieces, and thus market levels were low through the 1940’s. In the early 1950’s several bags surfaced, giving dealers an adequate supply. More were part of the Treasury release of 1962 through 1964, but interest remained apathetic.

Although 10 obverse and 7 reverse dies were furnished for this coinage, not that many combinations have been identified by numismatists. None are “keepers,” except as a representative of the date and mint.