Q. David Bowers
The December 1977 issue of The Numismatist printed a two-page advertisement for Paramount International Coin Corporation, Englewood, Ohio, which read as follows:
THE RAREST REDFIELD DOLLAR! The Redfield Collection contained many different dates-some of them fairly common and others very scarce. But there was one date in the collection which must be considered significantly RARE-the 1895-S. The 1895-S had a mintage of 400,000-one of the very few dates in the series with a mintage below a half a million. Mr. Redfield's collection contained only a small number of Mint State-65 specimens of this date from which we have selected only the finest to offer our customers.
Specimens mounted in a red plastic holder and graded MS-65 were offered for $2,500.00 each. A time payment plan was available, under the terms of which the purchase price totaled $2,600.00.
The March 1978 issue of The Numismatist included an advertisement from the Frontier Mint (Thomas F. Mason, who traded earlier as the Cheyenne Coin Shop), Cheyenne, Wyoming. Morgan dollars were offered in a wide variety of grades, including two Uncirculated categories, as listed below.
Note: In the historical prices in this book, I have emphasized Uncirculated Morgan dollars. However, during the period after about 1960, many advertisements by many dealers for worn coins, similar to that of Thomas F. Mason given below, appeared in Coin World, Numismatic News, and other periodicals. The reader seeking to learn more need but refer to these, or to contemporary issues of The Coin Dealer Newsletter.
1878 7 TF. G-VG $4.80, VF 45.50, EF $5.95, MS-60 $10.20, MS-65 $16.95.
1878 7/8 TF. G-VF $11.50, VF $12.90, EF $14.90, MS-60 $27.25, MS-65 $39.90.
1878 8 TF. G-VG $6.30, VF $7.80, EF $8.00, MS-60 $21.25, MS-65 $25.95.
1878-CC G-VG $8.10, VF $9.40, EF $11.00, MS-60 $25.00, MS-65 $31.00.
1878-S G-VG $5.00, VF $5.65, EF$5.80, MS,60 $8.50, MS- 65 $10.95.
1879 G-VG $4.75, VF $5.10, EF $5.30, MS-60, $8.50, MS-65 $14.50.
1879-CC G-VG $16.50, VF $36.75, EF $125.00, MS-60 $450.00, MS-65 $950.00.
1879-O G-VG $5.00, VF $5.35, EF $5.70, MS-60 $13.00, MS-65 $23.50.
1879-S G-VG $5.10, VF $5.40, EF $5.60, MS-60 $8.50, MS- 65 $9.75.
1880 G-VG $4.75, VF $5.40, EF $5.80, MS-60 $8.40, MS-65 $11.90.
1880-CC G-VG $17.95, VF$27.25, EF $3.75, MS-60 $73.50, MS-65 $78.50.
1880-O G-VG $4.75, VF $5.60,EF $5.70, MS-60 $12.40, MS-65 $35.50.
1880-S GNG $4.80, VF $5.10, EF $5.60, MS-60 $7.90, MS- 65 $8.75.
1881 G-VG $4.80, VF,$5.40, EF $5.50, MS-60 $8.90, MS-65 $11.20.
1881-CC G-VG $37.95, VF $44.50,EF: $48.50, MS-60 $73.50, MS-65 $78.50.
1881-O G-VG $4.90, VF $5.10; EF-45,155, MS,60 $7.40, MS- 65 $8.90.
1881-S G-VG $4.90, VF $5.30, EF $5.60 MS-60 $6.85, MS- 65 $8.40.
1882 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.30, EF$5.60,MS-60 $8.25, MS-65 $10.25.
1882-O G-VG $4.90, VF $5.60, EF $5.65, MS-60 $8.40, MS-65 $8.90
1882-S G-VG $5.35, VF $6.40, EF $6.55, MS-60 $8.40, MS-65 $8.90.
1883 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.35, EF $5.60, MS-60 $8.00, MS-65 $12.00.
1883-CC G-VG $9.50, VF $13.85. EF $127.35, MS-60 $26.50, MS-65 $29.95.
1883-O G-VC $4.90, VF $5.35, EF$5.45, MS-60 $7.45, MS-65 $7.75.
1883-S G-VG $5.00,VF$5.45, EF $11.25; MS-60 $159.50, MS-65 $295.00.
1884 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.25, EF $5.50, MS-60 $8.65, MS-65 $11.50.
1884-CC G-VG $13.00, VF $17.50, EF $20.00, MS-60 $26.50, MS-65 $29.95.
1884-O G-VG $4.90, VF $5.15, EF $5.20, MS-60 $7.45, MS-65 $7.75.
1884-S G-VG $5.50, VF $6.20, EF $11.25, MS-60 $350.00, MS-65 $1,450.00.
1885 O-VG $4.90, VF $5.25, EF $5.45, MS-60 $7.40, MS-65 $7.90.
1885-CC MS-65 $79.00.
1885-O G-VG $4.90, VF $5.10, EF $5.15, MS-60 $7.45, MS-65 $7.90
1885-S G-VG $5.90, VF $6.80, EF $9.35, MS-60 $35.50, MS- 65 $54,00.
1886 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.25, EF $5.45, MS-60 $7.40, MS-65 $7.90.
1886-O G-VG $5.25, VF $5.70, EF $6.90, MS-60 $90.00, MS-65 $300.00.
1886-S G-VG $12.90, VF$15.70, EF $19.90, MS-60 $73.00, MS-65 $140.00.
1887 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.25, EF $5.30, MS-60 $7.40, MS-65 $7.90.
1887-O G-VG $4.80, VF $$.95, BF $5.20, MS-60 $14.50, MS-65 $28.00.
1887-S G-VG $6.70, VF $8.40, EF $9.50, MS-60 $29.50, MS- 65 $67.50.
1888 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.25, EF $5.45, MS-60 $7.50, MS-65.
1888-O G-VG $4.90, VF $5.30, EF $5.70, MS-60 $8.50, MS-65 $12.00.
1888-S G-VG $15.95, VF $19.70, EF $23.70, MS-60 $72.50, MS-65 $135.00.
1889 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.25, EF $5.45, MS-60 $7.95, MS-65 $10.50.
1889-CC G-VG $69.00, VF $165.00, EF $375.00, MS-60 $2,250.00, MS-65 $3.850.00.
1889-O G-VG $4.90, VF $6.90, EF $7.10, MS-60 $26.50, MS-65 $93.00.
1889-S G-VG $15.90, VF $18.75, EF $19.90, MS-60 $69.00, MS-65 $104.00.
1890 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.20, EF $5.30, MS-60 $7.20, MS-65 $9.20.
1890-CC G-VG $8.25, VF $1O.50,EF $16.30, MS-60 $72.25, MS-65 $79.00.
1890-O G-VG $4.90, VF $5.30, EF $5.85, MS-60 $20.00, MS-65 $42.00.
1890-S G-VG $4.90, VF $6.30; EF $6.80, MS-60 $21.50, MS- 65 $37.00.
1891 G-VF $4.75, VF $4.85, EF $5.10, MS-60 $16.95, MS- 65 $44.00.
1891-CC G-VG $9.50, VF $12.80, EF, $22.40, MS-60 $47.30, MS-65 $64.40.
1891-O G-VG $5.20, VF $5.80, EF $5.85, MS-60 $26.00, MS-65 $105.00,
1891-S G-VG $5.35, VF $5.90,EF $6.90, MS-60 $21.00, MS- 65 $63.00.
1892 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.90, EF $7.80, MS-60 $53.00, MS-65 $118:00.
1892-CC G-VG $15.00, vF $27.35, EF $49.25, MS-60 $163.00, MS-65 $220.00.
1892-O G-VG $4.90, VF $5.85, EF $6.75, MS-60$54.00, MS-65 $265.00.
1892-S G-VG $6.90, VF $14.75, EF $74.50, MS-60 $4,100.00.
1893 G-VG $17.25, VF $21.95, EF $27.95, MS-60 $138.75, MS-65 $179.25.
1893-CC G-VG $17.95, VF $49.95, EF $149.25, MS-60 $472.00, MS-65 $887.00.
1893-O G-VG $17.25, VF $29.95, EF $54.00, MS-60 $388.00, MS-65 $995.00.
1894-O G-VG $5.00, VF $7.35, EF $14.85, MS-60 $155.00, MS-65 $740.00.
1894-S G-VG $8.25, VF $16.90,EF $32.10, MS-60 $183.75, MS-65 $229.00.
1895-O G-VG $22.50, VF $39.95, EF $72.25, MS-60
1891-CC G-VG $9.50, VF $12.80, EF, $22.40, MS-60 $47.30, MS-65 $64.40.
1891-O G-VG $5.20, VF $5.80, EF $5.85, MS-60 $26.00, MS-65 $105.00,
1891-S G-VG $5.35, VF $5.90,EF $6.90, MS-60 $21.00, MS- 65 $63.00.
1892 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.90, EF $7.80, MS-60 $53.00, MS-65 $118.00.
1892-CC G-VG $15.00, VF $27.35, EF $49.25, MS-60 $163.00, MS-65 $220.00.
1892-O G-VG $4.90, VF $5.85, EF $6.75, MS-60$54.00, MS-65 $265.00.
1892-S G-VG $6.90, VF $14.75, EF $74.50, MS-60 $4,100.00.
1893 G-VG $17.25, VF $21.95, EF $27.95, MS-60 $138.75, MS-65 $179.25.
1893-CC G-VG $17.95, VF $49.95, EF$149.25, MS-60 $472.00, MS-65 $887.00.
1893-O G-VG $17.25, VF $29.95, EF $54.00, MS-60 $388.00, MS-65 $995.00.
1894-O G-VG $5.00, VF $7.35, EF $14.85, MS-60 $155.00, MS-65 $740.00.
1894-S G-VG $8.25, VF $16.90,EF $32.10, MS-60 $183.75, MS-65 $229.00.
1895-O G-VG $22.50, VF $39.95, EF $72.25, MS-60 $945.00, MS-65 $2,100.00.
1895-S G-VG $27.95, VF $69.40, EF $174.75, MS-60 $990.00, MS-65 $1,745.00.
1896 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.15, EF $5.30, MS-60 $8.50, MS-65 $10.15.
1896-O G-VG $4.75, VF $4.85, EF $6.85, MS-60 $153.00, MS-65 $625.00.
1896-S G-VG $7.30, VF $12.60, EF $39.20, MS-60 $294.50, MS-65 $490.00.
1897 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.10, EF $5.35, MS-60 $9.30, MS-65 $11.90.
1897-O G-VG $5.25, VF $5.40, EF $6.85, MS-60 $124.00, MS-65 $370.00.
1897-S G-VG $5.25, VF $5.35, EF $7.40, MS-60 $33.50, MS- 65 $74.00.
1898 G-VF $4.90, VF $5.40, EF $5.80, MS-60 $8.10, MS-65 $12.45.
1898-S G-VG $4.80, VF $6.80, EF $11.60, MS-60 $88.00, MS-65 $132.00.
1899 G-VG $16.40, VF $17.40, EF $22.40, MS-60 $38.75, MS-65 $47.25.
1899-S G-VG $5.80, VF $7.85, EF $18.95, MS-60 $145.00, MS-65 $230.00.
1900 G-VG $4.90, VF $5.05, EF $5.40, MS-60 $6.65, MS-65 $10.95.
1900-O G-VG $5.10, VF $5.35, EF $5.40, MS-60 $8.90, MS- 65 $10.95.
1900-S G-VG $6.75, VF $9.20, EF $12.80, MS-60 $85.00, MS-65 $159.00.
1901 G-VG $8.25, VF $14.00, EF $27.00, MS-60 $490.00, MS-65 $1,700.00.
1901-O G-VG $5.35, VF $5.65, EF $5.90, MS-60 $8.45, MS- 65 $10.75.
1901-S G-VG $6.00, VF $7.70, EF $19.00, MS-60 $94.00, MS-65 $195.00.
1902 G-VG $5.00, VF $5.40, EF $5.70, MS-60 $15.50, MS- 65 $38.00.
1902-O G-VG $5.30, VF $5.55, EF $5.90, MS-60 $7.35, MS- 65 $9.50.
1902-S G-VG $19.75, VF $29.75, EF $39.95, MS-60 $145.00, MS-65 $295.00.
1903 G-VG $5.50, VF $6.20, EF$7.20, MS-60 $12.70, MS-65 $28.50.
1903-O MS-60 $57.00, MS-65 $62.00.
1903-S G-VG $7.75, VF $14.50, EF $69.00, MS-60 $850.00.
1904 G-VG $5.25, VF $5.35, EF $6.40, MS-60 $39.95, MS- 65 $99.50.
1904-O MS-60 $7.50, MS-65 $8.95.
1904-S G-VG $6.90, VF $10.90, EF $39.90, MS-60 $320.00, MS-65 $590.00.
1921 G-VG $4.50, VF $4.60, EF $4.65, MS-60 $5.30, MS-65 $6.45.
1921-D G-VG $4.85, VF $5.10, EF $5.20, MS-60 $14.50, MS-65 $27.00.
1921-S G-VG $4.85, VF $5.10, EF $5.20, MS-60 $14.50, MS- 65 $27.00.