Q. David Bowers
In the June 1947 issue of The Numismatist, Harry W. Bason of New Hyde Park, New York, offered the following Morgan dollars for sale. Bason became a silver dollar specialist and ran extensive listings for years thereafter.
Bason's prices were usually on the cheap side. I did not know him and never did business with him; I do not know if his Uncirculated coins were such. At the time (and this comment is generic, not specifically about any advertiser), cheap prices often meant cheap quality; i.e., "sliders" rather than true Mint State coins. This situation persisted for many years.
1878 8 TF. EF to AU $3.75, Unc. $7.50.
1878 7 TF. EF to AU $1.50;'Unc. $2.50.
1878-CC EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $3.50.
1878-S EF to AU $1.50, Unc. $1.90.
1879 EF to AU $1.80, Unc. $2.50.
1880 EF to AU $1.80, Unc. $2.25.
1880-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $6.50.
1881 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $2.50.
1881-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $5.90.
1882 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $2.50.
1882-O EF to AU $$1.90, Unc, $4.90:
1883 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $2.75.
1883-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1883-S EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.25.
1884 EF to AU $1.90, Unc.$2:50';
1884-O EF to AU $1.90, Unto $4.50.
1884-S EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $9.90.
1885 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $2.50.
1885-CC EF to AU $12.50, Unc. $19.50.
1885-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $5.90.
1885-S EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1886 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1886-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $6.50.
1887 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $7.50.
1887-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1888 EF to AU $1.90, Unc:. $5.90.
1888-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1889 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1889-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1890 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $5.50.
1890-CC EF to AU $2.50, Unc, $4.90.
1890-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1890-S EF to AU $1.75, Unc. $2.50.
1891 EF to AU $1.90, Unc.'$4.50.
1891-CC EF to AU $2.90, Unc. $6.90.
1891-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.90.
1882 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $6.50.
1892-CC EF to AU $2.90, Unc. $7.90.
1892-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.90.
1892-S EF to AU $4.50, Unc, $12.50.
1893 EF to AU $3.90, Unc. $7.50.
1893-O EF to AU $4.50, Unc. $8.90.
1893-S EF to AU $25.00.
1894 EF to AU $6.50, Unc, $8.50.
1894-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc, $4.90.
1895-O EF to AU $3.90, Unc. $8.90.
1895-S EF to AU $7.50, Unc. $17.50.
1896 EF to AU $3.90, Unc. $6.50.
1896-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $5.50.
1897 EF to AU $4.90, Unc. $8.90.
1897-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1898 EF to AU $4.90, Unc. $9.90.
1898-O EF to AU $4.90, Unc. $9.90.
1899 EF to AU $2.90, Unc. $6.50.
1899-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1899-S EF to AU $2.50, Unc. $4.50.
1900 EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1900-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1900-S EF to AU $2.90, Unc. $6.50.
1901 EF to AU $2.90, Unc. $7.50.
1901-O EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $4.50.
1901-S EF to AU $1.90, Unc. $3.90.
The Will W. Neil Collection sold by B. Max Mehl, June 17, 1947. In his time in the 1920s, Neil, a Kansas druggist, was a pioneer: in the. collecting of Morgan dollars by dates and mintmarks, I presume, but do not know, that a number of the duplicates listed below represent different die varieties such as mintmark positions, but were not catalogued as such by Mehl, as he may not have felt that the dollar varieties would realize an extra amount sufficient to repay the cost of the effort involved and the extra paper and printing. Note the appearance of the 1900-O/CC, a variety not identified in many collections at the time.
1878 Brilliant Proof $28.00.
1878 Brilliant iridescent Proof $31.00.
1878 AU. Tiny nick. $13.50.
1878 VG $1.20.
1878 VG $do.
1878-CC Unc, with frosty mint surface. $1.35.
1878-CC VF $1.25.
1878-CC EF. $2.80.
1878-CC About Fine $1.25.
1878-S VF $1.80.
1878-S Brilliant Unc. with full mint lustre. $2.10.
1878-S Fine $1.25.
1878-S Fine $1.25.
1879 Brilliant iridescent Proof $11.25.
1879-CC Fine $3.00.
1879-CC Fine $1.25.
1879-CC Fine $1.25.
1879-CC Fine $1.25.
1879-O Fine $1.20.
1879-O About Fine $1.20.
1879-O VG with tiny nick on reverse. $2.10.
1879-O About Fine $1.25.
1879-S AU with considerable mint lustre. $l.25.
1879-S Good. $l.25.
1879-S AU with frosty surface. $1.95.
1880 Brilliant Proof $11.25
1880-CC Type of 1878. [No grade given.] $1.50.
1880-CC Type of 1879. About Fine $3.15.
1880-CC Type of 1879. Good. $1.25.
1880-O VF $2.10.
1880-O Fine, strictly so. $3.15.
1880-O Fine to VF $3.15.
1880-S VF $1.75.
1880-S VF $1.25.
1880-S VF $1.25.
1880-S VF $1.25.
1881 Brilliant Proof $11.25.
1881-CC Strictly Fine $4.20.
1881-O VF $2.40.
1881-O Fine $1.25.
1881-S Unc.; slight cabinet friction. $2.10.
1881-S VF $1.25.
1882 Brilliant Proof $11.25.
1882-CC AU with mint lustre. Originally purchased as Brilliant Unc. $4.00.
1882-CC Fine $1.25.
1882-O [No grade given.] $5.
1882-S Fine to VF $2.35.
1882-S Fine $1.25.
1883 Brilliant Proof $11.25.
1883-CC Fine $2.80.
1883-O Strictly VG $1.25.
1883-O VG $1.25.
1883-S Strictly Fine $1.25.
1883-S Fine $1.25.
1883-S Fine to VF $1.25.
1884 Brilliant Proof $11.25.