Morgan Silver Dollar

Dazzling Prooflike 1897-O Morgan Dollar

1897-O Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-63 PL (PCGS).

This is a phenomenal strike rarity that well represents this challenging New Orleans Mint Morgan dollar. The strike is uncommonly sharp for the issue with emerging to bold detail in the centers, full definition elsewhere. The finish is truly impressive and is what sets this coin apart from the vast majority of Mint State 1897-O dollars extant. It is fully prooflike with glassy fields supporting satiny design elements. Enhanced by blushes of champagne-gold peripheral iridescence, this is a gorgeous coin that represents only of only 29 grading events at PCGS for the issue in the PL and DMPL categories combined. Though 4,004,000 coins were struck, the 1897-O is scarce to rare in all Mint State grades. Comparatively few bags came to market throughout the Treasury Department releases of the mid 20th century, and most of these Uncirculated examples showed bagmarks and other evidence of mishandling. As Wayne Miller observes in his Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook, "The 1897-O is extremely rare in prooflike condition." Indeed, we have offered only one other PL example in the past decade, a lower grade coin in PCGS MS-61 PL. Combining strike and condition rarity, this is truly a memorable example of the issue whose inclusion in this sale represents a fleeting bidding opportunity for advanced Morgan dollar enthusiasts.

PCGS# 7249. NGC ID: 2566.

PCGS Population: 5; 0 finer in this category. There are only two DMPLs with a higher numeric grade at PCGS, both MS-64.

Estimate: $ 10000