1895 $1 PR68 Cameo PCGS. CAC....

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1895 Morgan Dollar, PR68 Cameo
Stunning Registry Example
The Only CAC Coin in This Grade

1895 $1 PR68 Cameo PCGS. CAC. Ex: Simpson. The ascent of the 1895 proof to its status as "king of the Morgan dollars" was inevitable. The mintage of 880 pieces being of no consequential difference than any other proof was meaningless. The fact that this issue is a proof and not a business strike was also meaningless. Within a year of its coinage, the rarity of the coin was exalted due to the fact that, unlike all other proof issues in the series, the 1895 had no supplemental business strike counterpart for collectors to pursue. Thus, 880 coins became not just a proof mintage, but a year mintage. In recent decades, as the Morgan dollar series has absorbed unparalleled collector interest, demand for the 1895 has dramatically increased.

Mint records indicate that 12,000 circulation strike silver dollars were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1895, but no such coin is known to exist today. Two schools of thought exist to explain the Mint record, one being that the notation was a clerical error, and the coins were of another date. The other is that the circulation strikes were simply melted without leaving the Mint. In The Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook, Wayne Miller wrote:

"For all practical purposes, the 1895 exists only in proof condition, even though mint records list 12,000 business strikes. These must have been melted. In 1974 the American Numismatic Association Certification Service reported a genuine business strike 1895 silver dollar, but this finding has been challenged by several numismatists."

Over the years a handful of circulated 1895 dollars have been called business strikes, but die variety study of these pieces reveals that in all cases the coins were circulated proofs. In A Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars, Q. David Bowers writes that by the 1980s five different 1895 proof obverse dies had been identified by the American Numismatic Association Certification Service. VAMWorld.com today detailed for different proof dies. These studies have been instrumental in determining that indeed no circulation strike 1895 dollars are known.

The Simpson 1895 dollar is stunning. PCGS has only certified four examples at the PR68 numeric level, including one non-Cameo, two Cameos, and single Deep Cameo (which is Plus graded) (11/20). None are finer at that service. For the Registry collector, this piece is just about as good as it gets. The pristine preservation and intricate sharpness of the fields and devices complements the stark cameo contrast on each side. Vivid blue, violet, and gold toning surrounds the borders, leaving the interiors with a light champagne warmth. It is also the only PR68 Cameo with CAC approval. Examples of the 1895 dollar are occasionally seen at auction, but never in this condition. This piece is simply exceptional. Population: 2 in 68 Cameo, 0 finer. CAC: 1 in 68, 0 finer (11/20).(Registry values: N10218)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 27ZR, PCGS# 87330, Greysheet# 7842)

Weight: 26.73 grams

Metal: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

View all of [Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part III ]

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