1896-S Morgan Dollar
Guidelines for Collecting:
The 1896-S is another example in the Morgan series that is common in low grades and rare in higher Mint State levels. Most of this generous mintage likely went into the melting pot. Although bags of coins were paid out from the San Francisco Mint in the early 1950s, at the time they had little value. The striking and luster quality of this issue is just average or a bit below. Finding a piece with a sharp strike will take some time. Luster is somewhat shallow, not deeply frosty. Bagmarks are a problem.
Availability in Circulated Grades:
Easy enough to find with serious searching, but choice EF and AU coins are not as common as the mintage suggests. This date was known as a key to the series for years and is still considered scarce in circulated grades.
Availability in Mint State Grades:
The Uncirculated population of this date is thin at best with many examples crowded at the MS-60 level or slightly above. MS-63 is a grade to be reckoned with. Above that it’s a date that is still on many want lists. Finding a sharp example of the date is a plus, but is not easily found.
Availability in Proof:
None produced.
The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Larry H. Miller Collection, where it realized $720,000.
1896-S Morgan Dollar Auction Highlights
 PCGS MS-69, CAC Sold for $720,000 View Lot 6371 |  PCGS MS-67, CAC Sold for $132,000 View Lot 1105 |  PCGS MS-65 Sold for $18,800 View Lot 13165 |
