1894-O Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-63 (PCGS). Gold Shield Holder.Splashes of pale bronze iridescence accent the pearlescent silver surfaces of this beautiful New Orleans example. The fields are smooth and flashy, creating a nearly prooflike reflectivity when viewed under a light source. The satiny luster in the fields contrasts notably with the more frosty luster of the design elements, delivering strong eye appeal that complements the overall unblemished surfaces. <p>The 1894-O is a much scarcer and more conditionally challenging Morgan dollar issue than a relatively generous mintage of 1,723,000 pieces might imply. The New Orleans Mint struggled with quality control throughout the Morgan dollar series, and the 1894-O is certainly no exception. In fact, "Mint State examples of the 1894-O dollar are often wretched in appearance," as Q. David Bowers writes in A Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars (2016). Known for poor surface quality and particularly weak strikes, finding a quality Choice representative like the present piece is a difficult task for even the most dedicated numismatist.