hey guys, what does it mean when a PCGS slabbed coin has an "S" next to the denomination of the coin? For instance: 1884CC S$1 then the grade and cert # are below that like normal. Thanks
Obviously that answer was incorrect. S$1 means Silver Dollar. You will see this used in years where Gold Dollars were also minted. For years when no Gold Dollars were minted (e.g., prior to 1849 and after 1889) there is no need to distinguish a Silver Dollar from a Gold Dollar so the designation will be $1.
just wanted to add that i have seen the S$1 designation on some modern commemorates (post 1982) even though no gold dollars were made that year. i am guessing it was because there were non-silver dollar coins made that year -- however for some reason the designation doesnt seem to be consistently applied to all silver dolllar coins as i have seen some modern silver dollar commemoratives without the S prefix on the $1. I wish PCGS would be consistent with their own "rules".
You are correct. My answer was too confining as I was speaking in terms of Morgan Dollars. As you pointed out the correct answer should have been the 'S' is used to denote a silver coin when another composition of the same denomination was minted in the same year. If the only commemorative dollars produced in a particular year are all 90% silver there would be no need to use the 'S' prefix because there are not other compostions from which to distinguish them. For example, in 2000 the Leif Ericson Millennium Dollar and the American Buffalo Commemorative Dollar were minted. Both are 90% silver. No other compositions of those coins were minted so the 'S' prefix is not needed to distinguish them from other compositions. (i.e., "2000 Buffalo$1" or "2000 $1 Buffalo" will suffice.) Of course, the Sacagawea Dollar was also minted in 2000 but it would be described as "2000 Sac$1" and should not be confused with the Silver Dollars.
