1904-S $1 MS DMPL

Key to Collecting: The 1904-S dollar is one of the key issues in the series, and in comparison to the demand for them, Mint State pieces are elusive. When found, the strike is apt to be shallow and the luster average or poor. In contrast, price-wise, there are many nice VF and EF pieces around, also requiring careful selection, that can be just right for those who do not want to invest in Mint State coins.

Surface Quality: The strike is typically about average. Sharp pieces exist but must be sought out, which is not particularly easy to do as Mint State pieces are somewhat elusive. Most Mint State pieces are usually below average in this respect, but there are some notable exceptions.

Prooflike Coins: Prooflike coins exist but have low contrast. DMPL coins are very rare.

Mintage and Distribution: Delivery figures by month: January, 1,252,000; February, 216,000; March, 0; April, 576,000; May, 260,000; June–December, 0. 1904-S dollars were distributed into circulation over a long period of time. In addition to bags stored at the San Francisco Mint, others were shipped to the Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., from which depot many were paid out in the 1930’s and 1940’s. In 1941 and 1942 multiple bags came out, filling numismatic channels to the extent that 1904-S was considered to be a plentiful issue. Although scattered supplies remained for a long time, and in the 1950’s the 1904-S was not expensive, none were to be had in San Francisco. Dealer John Skubis recalled that the only full bags of S-Mint dollars he never handled were 1892-S, 1893-S, and 1904-S. No mention of quantities of 1904-S dollars has been found in connection with either the Treasury release of 1962 through 1964 or the Redfield hoard (1976).

Many varieties exist, some with new hub (introduced in 1900), others with new hub over old hub, and with some slight features of the undertype visible; check VAM for details.