Diagnostic die line on genuine 1893-S Dollars
PCGS MS65
- PCGS #:
- 7226
- Designer:
- George T. Morgan
- Edge:
- Reeded
- Diameter:
- 38.10 millimeters
- Weight:
- 26.73 grams
- Mintage:
- 100,000
- Mint:
- San Francisco
- Metal:
- 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $735,000 • MS65 • 05-21-2018 • Sotheby's
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 9,948 |
| 60 or Better | 123 |
| 65 or Better | 18 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-3.0 |
| 60 or Better | R-7.7 |
| 65 or Better | R-9.2 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 7 / 117 |
| 60 or Better | 4 / 117 |
| 65 or Better | 11 / 117 TIE |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 7 / 117 |
| 60 or Better | 4 / 117 |
| 65 or Better | 11 / 117 TIE |
Condition Census What Is This?
#1 MS67 PCGS grade
Cornelius Vermeule Collection - Jack Lee Collection - Stack's 9/2001:548, $414,000 - Summit Rare Coins, sold privately on 10/14/2008 - Legend Numismatics, sold privately for a price reported to be in excess of one million dollars - “Coronet” Collection. |
#2 MS65 PCGS grade
J. Colvin Randall Collection - John M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:2294, $198,000 - “Stellar” Collection - “Sunnywood” Collection - Bob R. Simpson Collection - Legend Rare Coin Auctions 10/2014:190, $646,250 - “Wizard of Oz” Collection (PCGS Set Registry) |
|
#2 MS65 PCGS grade
“Elliot Goodman” Collection - “Antelope Valley” Collection (via Barry Stuppler - Bowers & Merena 1/1993:128 - Mark Yaffe - Jefferson Coin and Bullion - Ralph & Lois Stone Collection - Sotheby's 5/2018:107, $735,000 |
| #2 MS65 PCGS grade |
| #2 MS65 PCGS grade |
| #2 MS65 PCGS grade |
|
#2 MS65 estimated grade
Norweb Collection, Part III - Bowers & Merena 11/1988:3887, $357,500 - David Carter and George Bodway - PCGS Tour Coin, 1990 and 1991 - Jack Lee Collection - Heritage 4/2008:2366, not sold - Bowers & Merena 11/2009:3225, not sold - Heritage 8/2011:7332, $546,250 |
#8 MS64 PCGS grade
American Numismatic Rarities 1/2005:758, $276,000 - Arno Collection - Heritage 1/2009:5024, $299,000 - “IPS” Collection (PCGS Set Registry) |
#8 MS64 PCGS grade
“Jackson Hole” Collection - Heritage 4/2007:80, $149,500 - DT Miller by Ashmore Collection (PCGS Set Registry) |
| #8 MS64 PCGS grade |
I have never personally seen a quantity of mint State 1893-S dollars. However, 20 examples of 1893-S are said to have been found mixed in with a bag of 1894-S dollars which came to light in Great Falls, Montana in the early 1950s (as reported by Wayne Miller).
The Eliasberg 1893-S $1 in PCGS MS65 sold in a Legend Rare Coin Auction in October 2014 for a new record price of $646,250, surpassing the previous record held by the Norweb NGC MS67. The big question is how this new record price will affect the value of the spectacularly toned PCGS MS67 Vermeule/Lee/Coronet Collection example, which was acquired by the owner of the Coronet Collection in October 2008 for a price reported to be in excess of $1 million.
The 1893-S is the true "King" of the Morgan dollar series. The PCGS CoinFacts Board of experts estimated survival number for all grades is 9948. Dave Bowers has estimated that 6000 to 12,000 survive and I think those numbers are probably accurate. There are probably as many as 10,000 1893-S dollars in all grades.
In Mint State condition, the 1893-S is absolutely the rarest Morgan dollar. And in Gem MS65 or better it's a super rare coin. CoinFacts survival estimate is 123 Mint State survivors and 18 MS65 or better survivors. I believe that MS65ob number is way too high. I think there may very well be 100 or so MS60ob survivors, but no way is there 18 Gems. I believe the true number of MS65 or better examples is probably 6 to 7 coins.
The finest known example is the fabulous Jack Lee MS67, recently sold for over a million dollars. There are 5 or 6 others that have or would grade MS65 at PCGS. Over the years I have handled several Gems, but if there were truly more than 10 MS65ob coins then they would appear much more often than they do.
Note that this is one Morgan that is virtually unknown in prooflike condition.
Note that there are many counterfeits, usually made by adding an "S" to a 1893 Philadelphia. So authenication is highly recommended.