Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
Scott's Catalogue of Gold and Silver Coins, 1893, gave the following prices, among others, for Morgan silver dollars. At the time there was very little interest in collecting mintmarks, and no significant premium was attached to them. In keeping with other entries for other series in the same publication, the listing of Morgan dollars was poorly researched, and the prices did not accurately reflect market levels. Indeed, the listings are purely mechanical, with little differentiation of values among varieties, and for research purposes they are worthless today.
Scott's philosophy in coin as well as stamp cata-logues was to list prices above the market, so that dealers could sell items for current market value and holders of the Scott catalogues would think they were acquiring them at a discount.
Note that certain Carson City varieties are not listed and that a non-existent 1878-S with 8 tail feath-ers is listed. This latter entry caused a number of specialists to go on a wild-goose chase, and it was not until many years later that it was generally recog-nized that the variety was never struck.
1878 8 feathers in eagle's tail. Unc.. $2.50, Proof $2.75.
1878 7 feathers in eagle's tail. Unc.. $2.00, Proof $2.50.
1878-S [sic) 8 feathers in eagle's tail. Unc. $2.50.
1878-S 7 feathers in eagle's tail. Unc, $2.00.
1879 Unc.. $1.50, Proof $2.00.
1879-O Unc.$1.50.
1879-S Unc, $1.50.
1880 Unc. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1880-O Unc. $1.50.
1880-S Unc.. $1.50.
1881 Unc.. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1881-O Unc.. $1.50.
1881-S Unc.. $1.50.
1882 Unc.. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1882-O Unc.. $1.50.
1882-S Unc.. $1.50.
1883 Unc.. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1883-O Unc.. $1.50.
1883-S Unc. $1.50.
1884 Unc.. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1884-O Unc. $1.50.
1884-S Unc. $1.50.
1885 Unc. $1.50, Proof $2.50.
1885-O Unc. $1.50.
1885-S Unc, $1.50.
1886 Unc. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1886-O Unc, $1.50.
1886-S Unc. $1.50.
1887 Unc. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1887-O Unc. $1.50.
1887-S Unc. $1.50.
1888 Unc. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1888-O Unc. $1.50.
1888-S Unc, $1.50.
1889 Unc. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1889-CC Unc. $1.50.
1889-O Unc. $1.50.
1889-S Unc. $1.50.
1890 Unc. $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1890-CC Unc. $1.50.
1890-O Unc. $1.50.
1890-S Unc, $1.50.
1891 Unc, $1.50, Proof $2.25.
1892 Unc. $1.50, Proof $2.25.