Q. David Bowers
S.H. and Henry Chapman's sale of the Ferguson Haines Collection, October 17-18, 1888. Held in an eta when Morgan dollars were still being minted, this sale was typical of the era in that Proofs were included, but mintmarks were generally ignored. The 1883-O and 1884-O dollars may have been branch mint Proofs, but in the absence of specific documentation this is unlikely. Most probably, they were what would be called prooflike today. When it comes to compiling a record of true branch mint Proofs-of which very few were ever made-historical data are nearly valueless.
1878 8 TF. VF. Proof surface $1.10.
1879 Proof $1.15.
1880 Proof $1.20.
1881 Proof $1.40.
1882 Proof $1.30.
1883 Proof $1.30.
1883 Duplicate. Unc. Mint lustre $1.15.
1883-O Proof. Very rare. Only 12 Proofs struck $3.00.
1884 Proof $1.15.
1884-O Proof. Very rare in this condition $3.50.
1885 Proof $1.15.
1886 Proof $1.20.
S.H. and H. Chapman's sale of June 17-18, 1889.
This offering is remarkable in that it emphasizes branch mint Morgan dollars at a time when most numismatists ignored them completely. Presumably, the unnamed owner of the cabinet acquired the coins by application to the mints in question, which at the time were happy to comply with numismatic requests. Again, the coins offered as "Proof' were more than likely prooflike Uncirculated, although the cataloguers took special pains to describe the Proofs separately.
In 1889, there was no differential in value for Uncirculated branch mint coins, except that prooflike pieces would sell for more. No one had compiled information as to the respective rarity of 1880-O, 1881-O, etc. dollars. While those in the sale brought $2.00 each on the average, elsewhere in the market various branch mint dollars were apt to sell for very slightly over face value, perhaps $1.10 to $1.25-just enough to reflect the cost of handling and a small profit.
1880-O Unc, Brilliant mint lustre $2.00.
1881-O Unc, Brilliant mint lustre $2.00.
1881-S Unc, Brilliant mint lustre $2.00.
1882-O Unc, Brilliant mint lustre $2.00.
1883-S Unc., Slightly haymarked $1.50.
1884-S Unc. Brilliant mint lustre $2.00.
1885-S Unc. Brilliant mint lustre $2.00.
1886-O Unc, Brilliant mint lustre $2.00.
1886-S Unc. Brilliant mint lustre $2.00.
NOTE: The following dollars of the branch mints are very difficult to obtain, especially the brilliant Proofs of which we know of but one more specimen of each (with the exception of 1883, of which 12 are said to have been struck), and they are not for sale, being in a private collection. All are standard dollars.
1883 New Orleans Mint. Brilliant Proof Extremely rare. $4.00.
1883 Carson City Mint. Brilliant Proof Extremely rare. $4.00.
1884 New Orleans Mint. Brilliant Proof Extremely rare. $4.00.
1884 Carson City Mint. Brilliant Proof Extremely rare. $4.00.
1885 New Orleans Mint. Brilliant Proof Extremely rare. $4.00.
1887 New Orleans Mint. Proof. Extremely rare. 4.00.
1887 San Francisco Mint. Proof not very brilliant. $3.00
The Robert Coulton Davis Collection sold by the New York Stamp & Coin Co., January 20-24, 1890. Note that some coins sold for face value, a common occurrence in the era. Davis was a well-known numismatist in his time, had close connections to the Philadelphia Mint staff, and over a period of years formed and dispersed several collections.
1878 8 TF; Proof $1.50.
1878 7 TF; sharp and perfect Proof $1.25.
1879 Sharp and perfect Proof $1.
1879-O Sharp and perfect Proof; it is said that only 12 of these Proof dollars were coined. $6.
1879-CC Proof surface, Unc, $1.25.
1879-S Proof surface, Unc, $1.25.
1880 Sharp and perfect Proof $1.
188O-S Sharp, brilliant Unc, $1.25.
1881 Proof surface; Unc, $1.25.
1881 Sharp and perfect Proof $1.25.
1881-CC Sharp, brilliant Unc. $2.40.
1881-O Sharp, brilliant Unc, $1.90.
1881-S Sharp, brilliant Unc, $1.25.
1882 Sharp and perfect Proof $1.10.
1883 Sharp and perfect Proof $1.10.
1884 Sharp and perfect Proof $1.
1885 Sharp and perfect Proof $1.
1885-O Proof surface; Unc. $1.25.
1885-CC. Sharp, brilliant Unc. $3.40.
1886 Sharp and perfect Proof $1.05.