Q. David Bowers
Business Strikes:
Enabling legislation: Act of February 28, 1878, plus the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of July 14, 1890 Designer: George T. Morgan
Weight and composition: 412.5 grains; .900 silver, .100 copper
Melt-down (silver value) in year minted: $0.47958
Dies prepared: Obverse: Unknown; Reverse: Unknown.
Business strike mintage: 12,590,000; Delivery figures by month: January: 1,550,000; February: 1,500,000; March: 2,000,000; April: 1,500,000; May: 1,500,000; June: 1,000,000; July: 630,000; August: 400,000; September: 1,000,000; October: none; November: 1,140,000; December: 370,000.
Estimated quantity melted: Millions under the Pittman Act; millions more in later private melts.
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 20,000 to 40,000 (URS-16)
Approximate population MS-64: 100,000 to 200,000 (URS-18)
Approximate population MS-63: 120,000 to 220,000 (URS-18)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 250,000 to 500,000 (URS-20)
Approximate population G-4 to AU-58: 750,000 to 1,250,000 (URS-21)
Availability of prooflike coins: Prooflike coins are readily available; DMPL coins are six or seven times scarcer. Most have negligible aesthetic appeal.
Characteristics of striking: Striking varies, but the typical coin is apt to be weak on the reverse.
Known hoards of Mint State coins: Many bags were released by the Treasury in the 1950s and in 1962-64.
Proofs:
None
Commentary
The 1900-O is very plentiful in Mint State, but most pieces are in the MS-60 to 62 range.
Additional Information
Distribution of Dollars
The Annual Report of the Director of the Mint, 1900, told of distribution of dollars during the fiscal year: New Orleans: In mint July 1, 1899, 11,409,000; coinage, fiscal year 1900, 14,140,000; total, 25,549,000; in mint July 1, 1900, 21,197,000; total, 21,197,000; distributed from mint, 4,352,000.
1900-O (regular and O/CC) is the only 1900-1904 issue not known to have been struck with the new C-4 reverse. If specimens exist they are extremely rare!