1879-O Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-66 (PCGS). This is an exceptionally well preserved and attractive example of a historic New Orleans Mint silver dollar issue. Brilliant with full mint luster in a softly frosted texture, the surfaces are expectably smooth for the premium Gem grade assigned by PCGS. Razor sharp striking detail rounds out an impressive list of physical attributes for this beautiful Morgan dollar. Production of the 1879-O marked the reopening of the New Orleans Mint following the Civil War. Struck to a quantity of 2,887,000 examples, this issue is readily available overall thanks to the storage and eventual release of thousands of Mint State coins. According to Q. David Bowers in his 1993 silver dollar encyclopedia, the largest releases came in 1957 (five to 10 bags) and during the early 1960s (multiple 1,000-coin bags). As with many otherwise common issues in the Morgan dollar series, the 1879-O is rare in the finest Mint State grades, which for this issue means MS-66 and higher. One of the most impressive examples of this premier New Orleans Mint Morgan dollar that we have offered in recent sales, this coin is sure to catch the eye of discerning bidders.
