1891-S $1 MS PL

Key to Collecting: The 1891-S is usually seen well struck, lustrous, and with a generous measure of eye appeal—a Morgan dollar as a Morgan dollar should be. Many beautiful MS-63 and MS-64 coins are on the market, and there are enough in higher grades for those who can afford them, although the prices are reasonable across the board.

Surface Quality: Usually seen well struck. A no-problem issue, with few exceptions. Usually seen lustrous, but some are spotted due to moisture on the surfaces after striking.

Prooflike Coins: Prooflike coins are sometimes encountered and are attractive. Contrast varies and, as always, bagmarks can be a problem.

Mintage and Distribution: Delivery figures by month: January, 785,000; February, 685,000; March, 700,000; April, 1,000,000; May, 850,000; June, 1,000,000; July, 6,000; August–September, 0; October, 70,000; November, 100,000; December, 100,000. Most of the 1891-S dollars seem to have gone into storage at the San Francisco Mint. It is likely that some were melted under the 1918 Pittman Act, but no records were kept. One bag of these “old” dollars was paid out to a San Francisco bank in 1919. Many other bags were released for use in circulation or for gaming tables in Nevada (but garnered no reportorial interest). In 1941 and 1942, especially large quantities were released, filling the numismatic pipeline, after which this was considered to be a common variety, this status remaining until at least the early 1950’s. After that time, dispersals were fewer, and the 1891-S was not common in bag quantities. However, the Redfield hoard (1976) is said to have had about five bags, most coins being well struck but heavily bagmarked.

No dramatic die varieties exist, although there are certain positional differences from the coinage that took place from 27 pairs of dies shipped to San Francisco this year.