1881 Silver Dollar

[nydigger]

My mother in law has an 1881 silver dollar she would like some info on that her grandmother gave her...here are some pics

 

[nydigger]

front

 

[nydigger]

rear

 

[creeper71]

info as in what? what it is worth? about 35.00

 

[LC]

I remember when I was a young Lad, I collected coins for about ten years . I remember seeing one of those Barber Liberties on the back of a comic book . The Littleton Coin company had an advertisement on the back cover . The price was three dollars . I remember going out collecting up pop bottles for the deposit and whatever else to come up with the three bucks . I believe it was an eighteen eighty five issue , looked like brand new when I got it . I got rid of all my silver a long time ago regretfully , but I decided to hang on to that Barber dollar , still have it put up somewhere around here . Probably a common year , but the memories of how I got it brings a smile to me face whenever I think about it

 

[harold]

I remember finding a silver dollar while looking for arrowheads. Thought WOW! Until I found out it was meant for the China trade and was worthless. Looks like the whiteman was cheating the Indians.

 

[MIdigger]

What you have is an 1881-P (minted in Philadelphia) Morgan silver dollar. Its worth about 40-45 dollars (retail) in the condition shown in the picture. Although if you try to sell it to a coin dealer they will likely try to lowball you with about a 10% under scrap silver price (scraps around 27.00 for a 90% silver dollar such as yours) they dont want to pay a collector price. They then put in in the display case for 45.00. Now if its in junk status, defaced bent dented etc then they send it to be melted and one would expect a "scrap" price as its genuinely "scrap".

LC- that isnt a Barber dollar, there were No Barber dollars (only 50/25/10 cent pieces) What is pictured is a Morgan silver dollar (so named after its designer Geo T Morgan) they were minted 1878-1904 and then again issued in 1921. Both designs are some of the greatest works of art in the coin world as collectors snatch them up. Yesterday metal detecting I was fortunate enough to find a mercury dime and a Barber dime. In my humble opinion, the Morgans, walking liberties, and Barbers are without compare.

 

[LC]

You are absolutely right Rich , was half asleep when I posted . I knew it was a Morgan . Will have to be awake when I post from now on .

 

[LC]

Went and found the one I bought as a youngster . It was real shiney when I bought it but seems to have lost its shine over the years .

 

[MIdigger]

Ah shes still got her beautiful lines. Without a doubt my absolute favorite american coin design. Since I started collecting at about age 7 Ive always admired that coin. If only the mint would come out with more of the old style coinage more collectors would get involved.

The $1,1/2,quarter,nickel,dime really need total make overs.