1895-S $1 MS DMPL

Key to Collecting: Mint State 1895-S dollars are well known for being extensively bagmarked, some actually appearing quite abused. Accordingly, the majority of Mint State pieces are in lower MS grades. A piece MS-63 or finer, with minimal bagmarks, is a numismatic find and is very special. Circulated specimens are elusive, as the mintage might indicate, but an attractive example can be a reasonable financial as well as aesthetic alternative to a baggy MS-60.

Surface Quality: The strike is typically excellent. Rich luster is seen on high-grade specimens.

Prooflike Coins: Prooflike coins exist and are desirable if in high grades, but the contrast is not strong.

Mintage and Distribution: Delivery figures by month: January, 0; February, 100,000; March, 100,000; April, 100,000; May, 100,000; June–December, 0. While some 1895-S dollars were paid out in the early years, the issue remained elusive for a long time. In 1942 the San Francisco Mint turned loose a few bags. Into the early 1950’s, more bags were paid out, but in the absence of a significant market for quantities, most went into circulation.

The 10 obverse and 6 reverse dies created for this coinage include the following varieties:

1895-S, S Over Horizontal S—VAM-4. Per Van Allen and Mallis, “original S shows as a triangular raised metal [area] to the left outside of the upright S and has a diagonal line through the top and bottom loops of S.” However, the feature is not particularly easy to discern.

1895-S Dramatically Repunched S—VAM-3. With the earlier mintmark punched too high and too close to the left ribbon. The final mintmark was punched in a centered position, but much of the earlier mintmark is still seen.