1880 $1 MS DMPL

Key to Collecting: The 1880 dollars were made in enormous quantities and from many different dies, and strike quality varies from sharp to weak. However, there are so many available today that finding a choice one will be no problem. Many 1880 dollars show traces of overdating (see Varieties), but these require significant magnification to discern, and most collectors ignore them. More Proofs than usual are in very high grades, on the long side of Proof-65.

Surface Quality: Striking varies from sharp to average; many pieces show lightness in the hair strands over the ear of Liberty. The luster is usually very good. Some coins struck from worn dies have metal flow and graininess and are to be avoided.

Prooflike Coins: Some are from prooflike dies, obverse or reverse, or both. DMPL coins were rare, until, per Wayne Miller, “a bag [1,000 pieces] of prooflike dollars appeared in 1971. . . . [Some] were gorgeous cameos. All had deep mirror surfaces, frosty devices, and minimal bagmarks. Many of [today’s] gem cameo prooflike 1880 dollars . . . are probably from this bag.”15

Mintage and Distribution: Dollars dated 1880 were very common by the early 1940’s, when many more bags were paid out from storage in Philadelphia. In 1955, large quantities turned up in eastern banks, probably hundreds of thousands if not more in bank vaults in the 1950’s, usually in lower Mint State. By the time of the Treasury release of 1962 through 1964, most were out of government hands.

Mintage: 1,355, a figure caused by the carry-along factor from those who were speculating in Proof Trade dollars this year. Today, many Proofs of this date have been cleaned.

Key to Collecting: Good strike. Usually with deep cameo contrast. The majority of coins have been cleaned (so, what else is new?). In case you wonder, this is why pristine, lightly toned, beautiful specimens from old-time collections trample price records into the dust.

A number of dies prepared for use in 1879 were overpunched with the date 1880, showing traces of the earlier digits. All told, 91 obverses and 77 reverses were made, probably most of the obverses being new (not altered from 1879).