1882-O $1 MS65 Certification #02391647, PCGS #7136

The 1882-o is relatively common in lower grades of mint state thanks to massive treasury releases of 1962 and 1963. However, true Gems are scarce and prior to 1996 there were few, if any MS 66 and MS 67 examples certified by the two major grading services. In 1990, a small hoard of exquisitely preserved 1882-o dollars surfaced at Heritage Rare Coin Galleries in Dallas. A family heirloom in the form of an old book had been prepared in 1882 for the 50th wedding anniversary of a New Orleans couple. Twenty new 1882-o Morgan dollars had been purchased from the New Orleans mint and were included with the book. The book and the coins remained together in the family until the day that Heritage purchased the coins. Most of the MS66 coins and one MS67 in the NGC and PCGS population reports originated from this source. There is one MS68 coin, ex. Jack Lee 1&2. This coin is all white and unusually clean in an older generation holder and perhaps an upgrade candidate.

Ron Guth

The 1882-O Silver Dollar is a common date but, because it comes from the New Orleans Mint, it is difficult to locate in Gem condition.  The typical Mint State grade for an 1882-O Morgan Dollar is MS-63, reflective of the typical poor strike associated with this mint.  Almost 700 MS-65 examples have been certified by PCGS (as of July 2012), but high collector demand means they can be elusive and expensive.  MS-66 examples are super-scarce and anything better is ultra-rare.  The finest example certified by PCGS is a single, monstrous MS-68 formerly in Jack Lee's set.