Top Reasons To Invest In The Morgan Silver Dollar
And Why The Coin's Condition Is A Key Factor


1. Without question the Morgan dollar is one of the most important and well-known silver coins ever minted. It is more popular than $20 gold pieces, more popular than type coins and even more popular than commemoratives. In fact a customer who looked at the graph and wanted to take advantage of these prices said he purchased PCGS MS65 Morgans, "because it is the first coin most of us consider." It literally stands for and represents the Old West and the lore that goes with stagecoach delivery and mining towns.


2. Rare coins are graded using the Sheldon Scale of 1 to 70. The hiher the numerical number the better the condition of the coin and the more difficult any given date is to find. We stated that the condition or grade of the Morgan Dollar was an all-important aspect of making sure this investment was successful. If you understand that condition investing has defined the rare coin market since the early 1970s you will be light years ahead of the competition. The most universally sought after grade is Mint State 65 (MS65) or Gem Uncirculated condition. This is true because it is at this lofty grade that the populations of the coins graded by PCGS (The Professional Coin Grading Service) begin to decrease dramatically relative to their mintages. Keep in mind that most of the Morgan dollars minted were not saved. They were used for everyday commerce and thus became circulated. That is why our recommended high grade uncirculated examples are difficult to find today. It is also at the PCGS MS65 grade that todays investor receives the most value as lower grades have much higher populations meaning it takes much more dollar volume to drive prices higher.


3. Since the advent of independent 3rd party certification by The Professional Coin Grading Service records of the total number of Morgan Dollars graded by condition are published each month. There is no more guessing as to how many coins exist in a particular grade. We know the exact number of Morgan silver dollars graded and their assigned grade. This information is published in the now famous Population Report. Using the population numbers and the selling price we can figure the Benefit Factor. This straightforward approach offers a simple way to select coins with the most bang for your buck.


4. The authorized melting of almost 300 million coins in 1917 created investment opportunities that are still being studied. Now couple this with the coin's inherent diversity because it was produced at 5 different mints over 28 years and it's easy to see why this coin is a "tour de force" in the making. The series contains many dates and mint-marks that go unrecognized, and sometimes even overlooked, leading to undervalued situations.


5. With the advent of PCGS graded coins the buyer is guaranteed in writing of the coin's condition and authenticity. A win-win situation for today's investor. Three world-class graders must independently agree on the coin's grade and then a "finalizer" must approve. The coin is then sonically sealed in hard plastic and is further protected by a unique 8-digit number that identifies your coin among all others graded. There is no better system in the world today.


6. Here is another important point. Have you ever looked at or studied a high grade Morgan Dollar? It is considered to be one of Americas most beautiful coins. Designed by the now famous mint master George T. Morgan this dollar is a stand-alone art form. A dignified Miss Liberty is on the front (called the obverse) and a majestic eagle on the back (or reverse). The eagle's wings are outspread, holding an olive branch in one talon and a bundle of arrows in the other. A classic from the golden age of coin design.


7. Also keep in mind that the Morgan dollar is not an obscure rare coin investment. It is a virtual barometer of the coin business. Any analysis of rare coin prices places much importance on this coin for two important reasons: First, its great popularity. Second, the Morgan dollar is among the most widely held silver coins among investors and collectors alike. This wide collector market places the Morgan Silver Dollar in a class by itself. Why? Because true collectors rarely sell their holdings. This accounts for the amazing stability of this investment market over the past 4 decades.


8. Finally take a look at the graph below. Timing provides today's investor with an unexpected premium. You can exploit the risk to reward ratio, clearly being able to invest at much lower levels than in the early years of PCGS grading.


PCGS MS65 Morgan Dollars Graph


HAND-SELECTED MORGANS BY THE COIN OR BY THE PCGS BOX


The beauty of this silver coin is that many Morgan silver dollars in MS65 condition are still very inexpensive. This means that virtually everyone can participate. 


Some more expensive Morgan Dollars are dates and mintmarks that are scarce.  Continue reading and you will discover a number of dates and mintmarks with lower PCGS Populations. They are more expensive because their PCGS Populations are much lower. These are used to build Morgan Dollar Sets which are always highly sought after.


MORGAN DOLLARS PCGS MS65
GEM UNCIRCULATED


 
PCGS No Date MS65 Population (Jan. 7, 2010) Rarity Price 4/15/2010 Benefit Factor
7072 1878 8TF 501 88 $1,450 8.5
7076 1878 7TF Rev 79 308 143 $2,300 8.7
7080 1878-CC 1536 29 $1,800 2.2
7082 1878-S 3291 13 $275 6.8
7084 1879 831 53 $840 8.8
7090 1879-O 267 165 $3,000 7.7
7096 1880 904 49 $730 9.4
7100 1880-CC 2132 21 $1,360 2.1
7118 1880-S 30229 1 $140 1.5
7124 1881 807 55 $725 10.6
7126 1881-CC 4094 11 $950 1.6
7128 1881-O 473 93 $1,300 10.0
7130 1881-S 44090 1 $140 1.0
7132 1882 1108 40 $460 12.1
7134 1882-CC 4500 10 $500 2.7
7136 1882-O 494 89 $1,050 11.9
7140 1882-S 15439 3 $140 2.9
7142 1883 3605 12 $190 9.0
7144 1883-CC 6887 6 $425 2.1
7146 1883-O 6296 7 $170 5.8
7150 1884 1938 23 $290 11.0
7152 1884-CC 6466 7 $425 2.2
7154 1884-O 11776 4 $140 3.7
7158 1885 7495 6 $180 4.6
7160 1885-CC 3731 12 $1,150 1.4
7162 1885-O 16084 3 $140 2.7
7164 1885-S 422 104 $1,650 8.9
7166 1886 13358 3 $140 3.3
7170 1886-S 261 169 $2,800 8.4
7172 1887 13622 3 $140 3.2
7176 1887-O 289 153 $2,600 8.2
7180 1887-S 346 127 $3,000 5.9
7182 1888 2390 18 $190 13.6
7184 1888-O 1644 27 $550 6.8
7186 1888-S 167 264 $3,100 11.9
7188 1889 1541 29 $300 13.4
7194 1889-S 560 79 $1,700 6.5
7196 1890 342 129 $2,300 7.8
7198 1890-CC 342 129 $5,500 3.3
7200 1890-O 420 105 $1,750 8.4
7202 1890-S 601 73 $880 11.7
7206 1891-CC 485 91 $4,800 2.7
7210 1891-S 372 119 $1,250 13.3
7240 1896 3131 14 $190 10.4
7246 1897 1375 32 $280 16.0
7250 1897-S 1023 43 $550 11.0
7252 1898 1963 22 $230 13.7
7254 1898-O 10175 4 $155 3.9
7256 1898-S 369 119 $2,000 8.4
7258 1899 972 45 $750 8.5
7260 1899-O 6515 7 $160 5.9
7262 1899-S 375 118 $1,700 9.7
7264 1900 3244 14 $200 9.5
7266 1900-O 5482 8 $170 6.6
7268 1900-O/CC 701 63 $2,000 4.4
7270 1900-S 475 93 $1,300 10.0
7274 1901-O 2453 18 $200 12.6
7278 1902 1260 35 $430 11.4
7280 1902-O 3759 12 $170 9.7
7282 1902-S 259 170 $2,700 8.8
7284 1903 2597 17 $275 8.6
7286 1903-O 1876 24 $640 5.1
7290 1904 170 259 $3,400 10.7
7292 1904-O 9462 5 $170 3.8
7294 1904-S 114 387 $8,500 6.4
7296 1921 3205 14 $165 11.7
7298 1921-D 1309 34 $330 14.3
7300 1921-S 719 61 $950 9.0