1899 $1 MS PL

Key to Collecting: Despite its low mintage, the 1899 Morgan dollar is rather plentiful on the market, causing several well-known authorities to doubt the mintage total. Circulated coins are scarce, but the demand for them is muted by the wide availability of Mint State coins. Apparently, few 1899 Morgan dollars were released into circulation at that time, for years later in 1925 a serious specialist could not find one, despite a lot of searching through quantities of dollar coins. Wonder what he would say now!

Surface Quality: The striking varies from below average to sharp, usually average or above. The luster is usually satiny and attractive.

Prooflike Coins: Prooflike coins are in the distinct minority, and when seen they usually have low contrast.

Mintage and Distribution: Delivery figures by month: January, 0; February, 76,000; March–April, 0; May, 214,000; June–November, 0; December, 40,000. At the time these low-mintage dollars were coined, few were paid into circulation. Collectors wanting one had to buy a Proof. Then came the silver rush, and bags were paid out in the 1950’s, with dealer Harry J. Forman nabbing about 10 bags of these coins from— of all places—Las Vegas. Probably from 50,000 to 100,000 Mint State 1899 dollars were released in that decade, followed by others later, including bags in Montana in early 1962 and thereafter, in California and Nevada.

Mintage: 846. Delivery figures by month: January–February, 0; March, 301; April– May, 0; June, 73; July–August, 0; September, 145; October–November, 0; December, 327.

Key to Collecting: Proof dollars of 1899 are fairly good contrast but not as “cameo” as certain immediately preceding years. There is no universally accepted definition of cameo in the trade, and opinions vary, as do labels affxed to holders.

Minor varieties of date/mintmark position from three obverse dies made. New reverses were also made, but others were on hand from earlier times.