The Beautiful Morgan Silver Dollar
Filed under: Morgan Dollars
The series of Morgan Silver Dollars has been popular with collectors for generations. This series offers a number of benefits or advantages that contribute to this status.
First, the coins are large sized and struck in silver. The size allows the coins to easily be appreciated for their design and artistry and make a more powerful impression when viewing. The silver composition is an advantage since it maintains an intrinsic value, without making the coins too expensive. For example, gold coins are much too expensive for most to collect by series.
Next, the coins were issued for a relatively lengthy period, providing a long series for collectors to pursue. From 1878 until 1921, the coins were struck for most years at various mint facilities. Among these issues are some extremely common issues like the 1884 Morgan Silver Dollar that can be acquired at affordable prices, even in beautiful gem mint state condition. Other issues are extremely scarce and provide a challenge for more advanced collectors.
Finally, the coins are reminiscent of a time within the history of the United States that was filled with growth and expansion. The history of the series includes the admission of several states into the Union, discoveries of major silver deposits, and changes and developments around the world. Holding these coins is truly holding a piece of history.
Proof Like Half Dollar
Filed under: Kennedy Half Dollar
Throughout the course of the Kennedy Half Dollar series, there have been some issues which display proof like qualities. Rather than the typical business strike surfaces, these coins are more exceptionally brilliant and mirrored. Side by side comparisons highlight the vast difference in appearance.
While most people associate this designation with the Morgan Dollar series, there are numerous modern series which might have proof like coins. This includes some Jefferson Nickels, Roosevelt Dimes, Washington Quarters, in addition to the series already mentioned.
Often the source of these coins will be from government issued mint sets. Were these proof like coins the first to come off the dies? Or struck after the dies had received special treatment? Some years tend to generated more coins with these qualities. The Denver Mint in particular also seems to produce more. These are a special treat for collectors.
The coin grading company NGC will provide a proof like designation to any coins which meet their criteria. The 1995 Kennedy Half Dollar shown above was graded NGC MS 67 PL. The "PL" representing "Proof Like".
Common, Generic, and Expensive Gold
Filed under: Double Eagles
Although its sometimes difficult to think of expensive gold coins as common, this is the case for some issues of the early 20th century. Saint Gaudens designed the double eagle following the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. The new designs are often cited as some of the most beautiful to have ever graced gold coinage.
The image of Liberty appears in full figure on the obverse. She holds a lit torch and olive branch, bringing freedom and peace to the world. Apparent in the background is a small view of the Capitol building and the rays of the sun. On the reverse is the bald eagle, a long time symbol of America, with the rays of the sun extending below.
While numerous issues of the series are downright rarities, there are some issues that are considered common or generic even in uncirculated grades. One of these is the 1915-S Saint Gaudens Double Eagle struck at San Francisco. The original mintage was on the lower end at 567,500 pieces, however a very large proportion of these survived. Today, the major grading services show more than 27,000 pieces graded.
On the other end of the spectrum are issues like the 1927 Denver Mint coin, which had a mintage of 3,107,000, but had just 12 pieces survive. The key to determining rarity for this series is how much of the original mintage survived and how much was melted.
Lower Mintage, But Wider Availability
Filed under: liberty nickels
For the Liberty Head Nickels series, the proof strikings typically had mintages of just a few thousand pieces per date. These coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and sold to collectors of the day as a special version of the circulating coin.
The minages for these pieces was miniscule when compared to the circulation strike versions of the coin, which were distributed through usual channels and used in commerce. Nearly all circulation strike mintages numbered into the millions.
Ironically, in higher grades of 65 and above, the proof Liberty Nickels are more available than the circulation strikes. This has to do with who originally obtained the coins. Whereas the special strikings were held within collections by collectors, the circulation strikes did as they were intended and changed hands frequently in commerce. Thus, the survival rate in pristine grades is large for the former and small for the latter.
A complete collection of proofs for the series can actually be acquired without much difficulty, which cannot be said for the circulation strikes.
Getting Coins From the First Day of Mintage
Filed under: Presidential Dollars
The United States Mint created a unique type of product in 1999. The debut took place with the State Quarter series, but the concept was soon used for the launch of the Sacagawea Dollar, Westward Journey Nickels, and eventually Presidential Dollars.
This new concept was called the First Day Coin Cover. It sourced coins from the very first day of mintage at each operating facility and placed them within a cover. This is the only product where these first produced coins are segregated and made available to collectors. To add another aspect to the offering, these specially created covers are post marked with the official release date of the coins.
Some covers will have three specific dates attached, the production dates at Philadelphia and Denver, as well as the circulation release date. Third party grading company NGC offers to encapsulate the entire cover and recognize the unique provenance of the coins included.
These covers remain popular with a segment of collectors. There is robust trading of previous issues for those looking to complete their sets with the missing pieces.