1895 Morgan Silver Dollar. Proof-55 (NGC).This is a handsome and highly desirable example of a fabled key date issue in the Morgan silver dollar series of 1878 to 1921. Minimally circulated, both sides retain plenty of sharp to full definition that even extends to the finer elements of Libertys portrait and the eagles plumage. Lightly to moderately toned, the surfaces exhibit warm steel peripheral patina around lighter silver-lilac centers. With 880 Proofs struck and no circulation strikes thought to have been produced, the 1895 is the rarest date and mint combination in the Morgan dollar series. Even if 700 coins are extant (the estimate provided by Q. David Bowers, 1993), the Proof 1895 would easily rank as the most elusive Philadelphia Mint issue of this type. At least a few dozen circulated specimens are known, as here; pieces were either deliberately spent by earlier generations of collectors or, more likely, accidentally found their way into commercial channels. Given the strong following that this series enjoys among numismatists, we anticipate that this inviting example will find its way into a specialized collection.From the Barnett Collection.