1891 $1 MS PL

Key to Collecting: The 1891 is a high-mintage dollar usually seen in low quality. Of course, if you have been a “constant reader” of this book to the present point, you know that this translates into O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-I-T-Y for you.

Surface Quality: The strike is usually average or below, not often sharp. Careful selection is suggested. The luster is often insipid and grainy, not at all attractive. Deeply lustrous, sharply struck pieces require cherrypicking to find.

Prooflike Coins: Prooflike coins are sometimes seen, sometimes lightly struck. Gorgeous DMPL coins exist and are memorable, but the availability of somewhat similarappearing Proofs probably dampens the market somewhat.

Mintage and Distribution: Delivery figures by month: January, 1,600,000; February, 1,200,000; March, 1,200,000; April, 1,000,000; May, 1,250,000; June, 900,000; July, 350,000; August, 500,000; September, 200,000; October, 250,000; November, 243,556; December, 0. Many 1,000-coin bags were put into storage. In 1954 and 1955, quantities were released, followed by many more—so many that by 1960 such coins were the most common date to be found in Philadelphia banks, a nuisance to those seeking other varieties.

Mintage: 650. Delivery figures by month: January–February, 0; March, 240; April– May, 0; June, 110; July–August, 0; September, 100; October, 0; November, 200; December, 0.

Key to Collecting: Striking can be weak at the centers. Medium cameo contrast. Low mintage, the possibility of a weak strike, and so many cleaned and dipped coins on the market add up to a challenge. However, many have been certified at Proof-65 or higher.

Varieties are mainly positional, although VAM-2 shows slight doubling on the obverse.