Stack’s Bowers Galleries will once again make numismatic history when they present a newly discovered 1881-O Branch Mint Proof Morgan dollar in their November 2024 Showcase Auction. Featured as part of the incredible Darrel O. Neidigh, Jr. Collection, this piece, long off the market and previously unknown to the modern numismatic community, was just recently graded by PCGS as Proof-64 and verified by both CAC and CMQ. It represents an incredible prize for advanced collectors of key-date Morgan dollars and 19th century Proof coinage.
Immediately recognized as something special by the experts in Stack’s Bowers’ Philadelphia gallery, this Branch Mint Proof 1881-O is one the most astonishing numismatic discoveries in recent years. For most areas of numismatics there are few surprise discoveries yet to be made, especially within the realm of late 19th century federal coinage. Yet the certification of a heretofore unknown Branch Mint Proof Morgan dollar such as this 1881-O is truly historic. Few series are as avidly collected as the Morgan dollar series. Along with coins produced for circulation, limited numbers of special Proof coins were struck for collectors each year at the Philadelphia Mint, with most years’ mintages being under 1,000 pieces.
Proofs were also produced in much smaller numbers at the branch mints in Carson City, New Orleans, and San Francisco. These Proofs struck outside of the Philadelphia Mint are extremely rare and most people have never seen one. Some dates are well known, and there is documentation for their creation; others—like this Proof 1881-O—have no historical documentation, but there is no doubt that this coin is a specially created coin, made from a freshly polished pair of dies and specially polished planchet. Care was taken in its execution, and since being produced it has been cared for by every one of its previous owners, whose identities unfortunately are lost to history.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries is honored to provide collectors with the first ever opportunity to acquire a certified 1881-O Branch Mint Proof dollar in their November sale. For questions on this historic rarity or to register for bidding, contact the firm at 800-458-4646 or email [email protected].
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 90+ year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection, The Sydney F. Martin Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few.
World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Salton Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, the Augustana Collection of gold rarities from across western Europe, the Richard Margolis Collection of world coins and medals and The Thos. H. Law Collection. Recently the firm was awarded the privilege of bringing the most valuable world coin collection to auction – the L. E. Bruun Collection.
The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with galleries in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Offices are also located in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Sacramento, South Carolina, Virginia, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Paris and Vancouver. Stack’s Bowers Galleries hosts an annual Global Showcase in August featuring United States coins and currency, Ancient coins and World coins and currency in its Costa Mesa auction gallery. They are also the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic events, including the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, the Spring and Fall Hong Kong shows, and the Maastricht Paper Money shows.
