Q. David Bowers
Coinage Context
At the Mint: In 1885 the Philadelphia Mint made many different coins from cents to double eagles, but in the domain of silver denominations, most attention was focused on silver dollars.
Numismatic Information
Hoard coins: Large quantities of 1885 Morgan dollars were released by the Treasury Department from the 1930s through the 1950s, particularly in 1954, followed by many more bags in the early 1960s. As a result, to the past two generations of numismatists the 1885 has been a very common date. In fact, of the early Morgan dollars of the 1878-1904 period, the 1885 is one of the most often seen and is outranked in availability only by the dates 1886 and 1887.
Any dealer who has any pretensions of being a Morgan dollar specialist has handled these by the bagful. Of course, this does not detract from the 1885, and much can be said for the marvelous fact that high quality Mint State coins of the 1880s, such as the 1885 dollar, can be bought for very low prices. What better way is there to encourage citizens of America to take up coin collecting, a great hobby and a soothing pastime in today's era of depersonalization and emotional isolation?
As most quantities of 1885 dollars were released in the 1950s, with fewer in the 1960s. Bags of 1885 dollars are not common today. Most have been broken up.
Circulated grades: This is a very common date in all circulated grades up through and including lustrous AU.
Mint State grades: 1885 dollars are common in all Mint State grades from MS-60 through MS-64. Even MS-65 coins can be purchased in quantity, should anyone wantto play Silas Marner with them. I suggest that 600,000 to 1,200,000 MS-60 to 62 pieces, 265,000 to 450,000 MS-63s, 160,000 to 250,000 MS-64s, and 40,000 to 65,000 MS-65 or finer coins survive.
The strike of 1885 dollars is above average, but not necessarily deeply frosty. Most Mint State coins, even in the lower ranges, are not heavily bagmarked.
Prooflike coins: Prooflike coins are easy to find and often have very pleasing mirror surfaces and nice cameo contrast. Probably, 25,000 or more exist. DMPL coins are of about equal availability. Most are in lower grades.
Proofs: Proofs are readily available in proportion to the mintage, but high-grade unimpaired, uncleaned coins are elusive.
Varieties
Business strikes:
1. Normal date: Breen-5581. Probably most of the 89 obverse and 88 reverse dies were used. Business strikes answering to either VAM-5 or VAM-2 may be from different dies from the Proofs: available illustrations do not provide certainty. Several varieties show from one to three slightly doubled digits; one with all four doubled is listed below. Some VAM-1 (VAM-1A and B) coins have die pitting on the reverse; probably from rust acquired in the humid Philadelphia summer. VAM-17, the Slanted Date, has 1 closer to denticles and the 5 distant, but is not considered significant by specialists.
2. Doubled date. Breen-5582, VAM-6. Slightly doubled at the top of the numerals. Scarce.
Proofs:
1. Proof issue: Partly repunched date: Two pairs of dies made for Proofs; both Proof obverses are identified, only one reverse, but it is not yet known which came first: 1. VAM-5, bases of 85 double (plainest at 5); 2. VAM-2, top of 5 double. First described from the AJ. Ostheimer coin in Lester Merkin's Sept. 18, 1968 sale.