Q. David Bowers
George P. Lang of Valley Stream" Long Island, New York ran an advertisement in The Numismatist in June 1948, with Uncirculated Morgan dollars priced as follows.
At the time1904-S continued to be slightly scarce, but not rare, date. Later, beginning in the 1960s, it would be appreciated as one of the most elusive coins in the Morgan dollar series in Mint State.
1878 7 TF. Unc. $2.00.
1878-CG Unc. $3.00.
1878-S Unc. $2.00.
1879 Unc.$2,OO.
1879-S Unc. $2.00.
1880 Unc. $2;00.
1880-S Unc. $2.00.
1881 Unc. $2.25.
1881-S Unc. $2.25.
1882 Unc. $2.25.
1882-S Unc. $2.25.
1883 Unc. $3.00.
1883-S Unc. $3.00.
1883-O Unc. $4.00.
1884 Unc. $3.00.
1884-CC Unc. $4.00.
1884-O Unc. $4.50.
1885-O Unc. $6.25.
1886-S Unc. $3.50.
1887-S Unc. $2.50.
1888 Unc. $6.00.
1888-S Unc, $2.50.
1889 Unc, $4.50.
1889-S Unc. $2.50.
1890-CC Unc. $4.00.
1890-O Unc. $4.25.
1890-S Unc. $2.00.
1891-CC Unc. $4.50.
1891-S Unc, $2.00.
1892 Unc. $5.50.
1892-CC Unc. $5.00.
B. Max Mehl's sale of the Dr. Charles W. Green Collection, April 16, 1949. The Green Collection was another one of those memorable cabinets that had a way of going to Fort Worth, Texas. There reigned Mehl, the grand master of the rare coin business at the time, who was celebrating his "50th anniversary" in the coin business four years early (he really started in the trade in 1903). Mehl never let accuracy get in the way of a good story or promotion.
The Green Collection had a very nice specialized grouping of Morgan dollars, not complete, but with many scarce issues.
1878 8 TF. Proof $26.00.
1878 8 TF. Unc., frosty mint surface. $4.00.
1878 7 TF. Perfect brilliant Proof $37.50.
1878-CC Brilliant Unc. $5.10.
1878-S Unc. with semi-proof surface. $5.25.
1879 Perfect brilliant Proof $8.00.
1879 Brilliant Proof, perfect. $8.00.
1879-CC VF $1.60.
1879-O Unc. with full mint lustre. $20.00.
1879-S Brilliant Vne. $3.15.
1880 Perfect brilliant Proof $8.40.
1880 Perfect brilliant Proof $8.00.
1880-CC Strictly Fine $6.25.
1880-O VF, strictly so. $7.25.
1880-S Brilliant Unc. $2.10.
1881 Perfect brilliant Proof $9.25.
1881 Perfect brilliant Proof $8.00.
1881-O Nearly Fine $7.00.
1881-S Brilliant Unc, $1.50.
1882 Proof $8.40.
1882 Proof, slightly stained. $6.00.
1882-CC Brilliant Unc. $5.25.
1882-O Fine, strictly so. $10.50.
1882-S Brilliant Unc. $2.25.
1883 Brilliant Proof $8.40.
1883 Brilliant Proof. Very light hairline on obverse. $6.00.
1883-CC VG $4.20.
1883-O Brilliant Unc. $3.00.
1883-S Unc. $5.75.
1884 Perfect brilliant Proof $5.85.
1884 Brilliant Proof $6.00.
1884-CC Brilliant semi-proof, but slight rubbed spot on obverse $3.90.
1884-O Unc., mint lustre. $4.20.
1884-S Unc. with slight cabinet friction. Tiny nick. $9.25.
1885 Perfect brilliant Proof $6.30.
1885 Brilliant Proof $6.00.
1885-O Unc., frosty mint surface. $3.75.
1885-S Practically Unc. $9.25.
1886 Perfect brilliant Proof $10.50.
1886 Brilliant Proof $6.00.
1886-O Unc. Tiny nick. $15.75.
1886-S Brilliant Unc. with Proof surface. $15.75.
1887 Perfect brilliant Proof $9.50.
1887-O Brilliant Proof. Raised borders. A beautiful coin. $76.50.
1887-O EF, nearly Unc. $9.45.
1887-S Unc., frosty mint surface. $8.25.
1888-O VF $4.50.
1888-S Unc., iridescent surface. $2.75.
1889 Perfect brilliant Proof $8.00.
1889-CC Nearly Unc. with frosty mint surface. $6.85.
1889-O Practically Unc., frosty mint surface. $9.45.
1889-S Brilliant Unc. with Proof surface. $3.60.
1890 Perfect brilliant Proof $9.00.
1890-CC Unc.; slight cabinet friction, but brilliant. $3.35.
1890-O Brilliant Unc.; slight evidence of having been handled. $5.50.