1886-S Morgan Dollar
Guidelines for Collecting:
The San Francisco Mint produced the smallest tally for Morgan silver dollars of any mint this year. Nearly all 1886-S coins have excellent eye appeal. Few were released into circulation upon production. It is believed that hundreds of thousands were melted under the 1918 Pittman Act. Additional coins were released into circulation from the San Francisco Mint in the mid-1920s, then more in the 1940s and 1950s. An above average strike is the rule for this mintage, with some searching required to find examples with a very sharp strike. The luster is typically of high quality.
Availability in Circulated Grades:
Not many circulated examples of the date are available; they are not rare but they are difficult to locate with any regularity and when found are often EF to AU.
Availability in Mint State Grades:
Quantities of Mint State 1886-S Morgan dollars stored in vaults at the San Francisco Mint were made available throughout the 1940s and 1950s to all interested parties, including Nevada gaming houses. This was a boon to collectors as the date was considered one of the rarest prizes among Morgan dollars prior to that era. Today there is no shortage of Mint State coins at the MS-64 and 65 levels and with a sprinkling of even finer coins available to those with great patience. An MS-64 with lively luster and a crisp strike will be an engaging addition to a growing Morgan dollar set.
Availability in Proof:
None produced.
The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the August 2018 ANA Auction, where it realized $10,200.
1886-S Morgan Dollar Auction Highlights
 PCGS MS-67, CAC Sold for $66,000 View Lot 6334 |  PCGS MS-66+, CAC Sold for $10,200 View Lot 1212 |  PCGS MS-65 PL, CAC Sold for $6,325 View Lot 3557 |
