Branch Mint Proof Morgan Dollars

I was at a coin shop in a rural area today. Fellow has a Morgan dollar from the 1880s, "O" mint, that is most likely a proof. Apparently there are a lot of types of proofs done at branch mints, like first strikes. Any source for knowing what these coins are worth?

 

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Sorry, proofs were only made at the Philadelphia mint, not any branch mints. It may be proof-like.
Guy~

 

actually there are a number of branch mint proofs:
instant thought: 1894 S Barber Dimes.

 

That said, the Morgan $ is most likely simply a DMPL
Deep Mirror Proof like.

 

Branch mint proofs

I spoke with a numismatist today who assured me there were branch mint proofs of Morgans. I'm just looking for the price value.

 

Branch mint proofs are rare, and worth a good amount of money.

The last O proof to sell on heritage was a 1879 O back in 2002 (PR64 Cameo) for $40,000.

But there is a high chance if the coin is raw it's either a PL or a DMPL.

(Branch Mint proofs: Search results for:)

 

I was referring to Morgans, as per the op's question. I believe all proofs are made in SF now.

Never heard of a branch mint proof in Morgans in the 25 years I've collected them. I'd like more info on them if you can point me the right way.
Guy~

 

Branch mint proofs

The piece is an 1884O. It looks like a DMPL, although it has all the qualities of a proof. I would grade it a "62" based on some minor hairlines.

 

Scroll down on the left of this page: Search results for: The mint mark selection will come up (for Proofs). CC, O and S branch mint proofs are known. I believe the 1893 CC was an official Branch Mint proof, while the '84 CC wasn't. The 1921 S Zerbe Proofs were made for Farran Zerbe a famous numismatist, who I also believe was an ANA president.

 

Thanks Raider. Always something cool to learn.
Guy~

 

Branch mint proofs

Thanks, I didn't see anything recently on the 1884O. Heritage would be the auction company for this certainly.

 

No problem :thumb:.

 

Value of Branch Mint Proofs

So the market in these coins is pretty much unknown? No auction sale of the branch mint proof Morgans since 2002. Apparently there was one 1884O proof sold in the late 1980's for the high $20Ks. The numsimatist I told today about it will probably be there tomorrow to check it out.

 

The last O Proof on Heritage sold in 2002, the last Branch Mint proof to sell on Heritage was a 1884 CC (PR66 Cameo) that sold on January 2009 for $184,000.

 

The coin your speaking of is probably the one discussed by Wayne Miller in his book. The coin was offered at the 1980 ANA convention in Cincinnati. According to Miller the coin was well struck and was "very deeply mirrored", but it had been "badly mishandled", Miller, Leidman and John Ford were unable to determine if it was truly a Proof. The coin sold at the convention for $500, the coin was then authenticated by Walter Breen as a proof and it was resold for $22,500.

[Miller,W (1983) The Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook. p. 212. Montana: Adam Smith Publishing.]

 

The only authorized branch proofs I can find are the 1879-O (12 from one source) 1893-CC. There are various accord of "proof" for 1883CC, 1884CC, and 1921-S (Zerbe) via grading or auctions.

Jim

 

I've read the same thing too, the 1879-O and 1893-CC both were recorded in mint records as having proofs struck. All others were struck from business strike dies that were highly polished, and all were struck twice. Apparently only the 1884-O and 1921-S proofs were struck from new dies, all other Branch Mint proofs (Besides the '79-O and '93-CC, which were struck from proof dies), were struck from used business strike dies.

 

Branch mint proofs

This coin is deeply mirrored, it has the razor edge and the strike of a proof, it has minor hairlines which limits the grade to a PR 62, I think. No scratches, just the look of a proof that was at one time wiped.

 

Well if it does turn out to be a proof and not a PL or DMPL (And the 1884-O is one of the more common PL and DMPL dates), I believe it will be only the second or third proof known to exist.

 

Branch mint proofs and value

So with all those ifs, it's probably a crap shoot to buy it if you are not a numismatist with lots of experience.

It may be worth $20 to $30K then if it is a proof? Or more if certified, say PR62, with proper notation as such on the holder, and then a buyer on the other end?