1890-O Morgan Silver Dollar. MS-66 (PCGS). This strike and condition rarity is a very appealing representative of this challenging New Orleans Mint Morgan dollar issue. Central high point detail on both sides ranges from bold to sharp, and the coin is free of the extreme softness seen in these areas on most examples of the issue. The luster is full and frosty, and the surfaces are brilliant with an exceptionally smooth texture. The rarity of the 1890-O as a sharply struck Gem has long been recognized by numismatic writers. Wayne Miller (<em>The Morgan & Peace Dollar Textbook</em>) states, "As with all of the O mint dollars from 1887-1897, most specimens [of the 1890-O] are poorly struck." Q. David Bowers (1993) writes: "Most Mint State coins are weakly struck..." Due to this feature, the typical Uncirculated example is confined to lower certified grades through MS-64+, even if the surfaces are lustrous and overall smooth. A noteworthy departure from the norm, this premium quality Gem would do justice to the finest Morgan dollar set.
