Q. David Bowers
S.H. and H. Chapman's sale of the Ralph Barker Collection, July 7-8, 1904. This cabinet was standard for the era, and contained Philadelphia Mint Proofs in sequence. The 1895 at a high $6.10 figure was the highlight of the series.
1878 7 TF. Br. Proof $2.10.
1880 Br. Proof $1.35.
1881 Br. Proof $1.35.
1882 Br. Proof $1.35.
1883 Br. Proof $1.15.
1884 Br. Proof $1.20.
1885 Br. Proof $1.30.
1886 Br. Proof $1.20.
1887 Br. Proof $1.20.
1888 Br. Proof. Slight hairmark on obverse. $1.35.
1889 Br. Proof $1.31.
1890 Br. Proof $1.31.
1891 Br. Proof $1.31.
1892 Br. Proof $1.31.
1893 Br. Proof $1.20.
1894 Br. Proof $1.20.
1895 Br. Proof $6.10.
1895-S EF $1.35.
1896 Br. Proof $1.35.
1897 Br. Proof $1.35.
1898 Br. Proof $1.50.
1899 Br. Proof $1.50.
1900 Br. Proof $1.20.
1902 Br. Proof $1.35.
1903 Br. Proof $1.35.
The Waldo C. Moore Collection sold by Ben G. Green, May 13, 1905, had many Proofs. The highest price was achieved by a "very rare" 1895 at $4.60, while the 1904, the subject of current speculative investment interest, brought a strong $3.80. The Proof 1904 would continue to be the darling of in-vestors for many years to come.
1878 8 TF. Proof $1.25.
1880 Proof $1.20.
1881 Proof. Tarnished. $1.15.
1882 Proof. Tarnished. $1.15.
1883 Proof. Dull. $1.15.
1885 Proof $1.35.
1886 Proof $1.20.
1887 Proof $1.20.
1888 Proof $1.75.
1889-O, '90-O, '93-S. VF and Unc. (Total: 3 pieces). $3.25.
1893 Proof $1.15.
1893-CC and O. Unc., first has Proof surface. (Total: 2 pieces). $3.25.
1894 Proof $1.35.
1895 Proof. Very rare. $4.60.
1896 Proof. Tarnished. $1.15.
1899 Unc, Semi-proof surface. $1.10.
1900 Proof $1.15.
1904 Brilliant Proof. Rare. $3.80.
1904 Bright, Unc. $1.60.
Lyman H. Low's sale of the Philip D. Hoch Collection, November 1, 1905. This sale is remarkable in that it contained an Uncirculated 1903-O dollar, a coin not recognized as a rarity then, but one that would become the key to the series as years went on. It is probable that the Uncirculated mintmarked coins of recent years were ordered directly from the mints, which were happy to accommodate interested collectors who remitted face value plus postage.
1878 8 TF. Proof $1.25.
1878-CC EF. $1.40.
1878-S Unc.; a few immaterial nicks. $1.30.
1878-S Fine $2.05.
1879 Unc.; prooflike surface. $1.00.
1881 Proof $1.20.
1882 Proof $1.30.
1883 Proof $1.10.
1884 Proof $1.05.
1887 Proof $1.25.
1888 Proof $1.35.
1890 Proof $1.35.
1892-O Unc, $1.15.
1894 Proof $1.35.
1895-O Fine $1.00.
1895-O About Fine $1.00.
1895-S Unc., some brilliancy. $1.20.
1895-S Unc. $1.00.
1897-S Unc. $1.25.
1898-S Unc. $1.20.
1900-O Unc. $1.15.
1901-O Unc. $1.20.
1901-S Unc. $1.20.
1902-O Unc. $1.20.
1902-S Unc. $1.20.
1902-S Unc, $1.15.
1903-O Unc. $1.35.
In the December 1905 issue of The Numismatist, the Arnold Numismatic Co. advertised Proof Morgan dollars from 1878 to 1894 for $1.40 each.
The George W. Rice Collection, sold by St. Louis Stamp & Coin Company, April 13, 14, 1906. Rice was one of the first numismatists to take a serious interest in die varieties and mintmarks in the Morgan dollar series. The June 1898 issue of The Numismatist contained his article, "Die Varieties of the Current United States Standard Dollars," which was the first serious commentary to be printed on this aspect of the series.
1878-CC Unc, $2.00.
1878-S VF. $1.30.
1879-CC VG. $1.25.
1879-O VG. $1.40.
1879-S VF. $1.60.
1880-CC VG. $3.50.
1880-O VG. $1.15.
1880-S Unc. $1.50.
1881-CC VG. $1.80.
1881-O VG, $1.15.
1881-S VG. $1.20.
1882-CC VG. $1.55.
1882-O VG. $1.30.
1882-S VG. $1.30.
1883-CC VG, $1.15.
1883-O VG. $1.20.
1883-S VG. $1.10.
1884-O VG. $1.20.
1884-S VG. $1.20.
1885-CC VG. $4.00.
1885-O VG. $1.20.
1885-S VG. $1.20.
1886-O VG. $1.30.
1886-S VG. $2.00.
1887-O VF. $1.20.
1887-S VG. $1.20.
1888-O Unc. $1.70
1889-CC Unc. Some Proof surface. $5.10.
1889-O VF. $1.20.
1890-CC Unc. $1.55
1890-O VG. $1.20.
1890-S VF. $1.40.
1891-CC Unc. $1.95.
1891-O About Fine. $1.20.
1891-S Unc. $1.70.
1892-CC Br. Proof. $7.10.
1892-O Fine. $1.30.
1892-S Fine. $1.25.
1893-CC Br. Proof. $6.85.
1893-O VF. $1.20.
1893-S Unc. $1.35.
1894-O $1.50.
1894-S Unc. $1.35.
1895-O Unc. $1.80.