US MORGAN DOLLAR 1885 New Orleans Mint
080-00559
This **1885-O Morgan Silver Dollar**, struck at the historic New Orleans Mint, is a spectacular example of late 19th-century Southern numismatic history. Bearing a **Gem Uncirculated MS65** grade, this coin represents the top echelon of preservation for the series. While the New Orleans Mint produced over 9 million silver dollars in 1885, finding specimens that have maintained this level of pristine, original surface quality is a triumph for any collector or researcher.
The New Orleans Legacy
The "O" mint mark signifies that this coin was born in the "Old Mint" on Esplanade Avenue, a facility that played a pivotal role in the economic recovery of the South after the Civil War. In the mid-1880s, the New Orleans Mint was operating at high capacity to satisfy the requirements of the Bland-Allison Act. Large quantities of the 1885-O were kept in long-term storage in Treasury vaults, only coming to light during the great silver dollar "hoard" discoveries of the 1960s. This MS65 specimen was likely one of the few to emerge from those bags with its surfaces nearly untouched by the "clashing" of other coins.
Technical Merit and Luster
At the MS65 grade, this coin is defined by its **extraordinary luster**. New Orleans Morgans are often noted for a distinct, satiny "frost" that differs from the proof-like surfaces occasionally seen in Philadelphia strikes. George T. Morgan’s iconic profile of Liberty is rendered with sharp detail, and the MS65 designation ensures that the high points—such as the hair above Liberty's ear and the cotton bolls in her cap—are crisp and free of significant marks. The reverse features the bold bald eagle, where the "O" mint mark is clearly struck above the "DO" in DOLLAR.
Collector Significance
For the numismatist, an 1885-O in Gem condition is a quintessential "type" coin for the New Orleans Mint. It offers a perfect marriage of high technical quality and historical accessibility. As a **MS65 graded specimen**, it stands as a testament to a prolific era of American coinage, offering a level of eye appeal that makes it a standout centerpiece for a specialized Morgan Dollar collection.
The New Orleans Legacy
The "O" mint mark signifies that this coin was born in the "Old Mint" on Esplanade Avenue, a facility that played a pivotal role in the economic recovery of the South after the Civil War. In the mid-1880s, the New Orleans Mint was operating at high capacity to satisfy the requirements of the Bland-Allison Act. Large quantities of the 1885-O were kept in long-term storage in Treasury vaults, only coming to light during the great silver dollar "hoard" discoveries of the 1960s. This MS65 specimen was likely one of the few to emerge from those bags with its surfaces nearly untouched by the "clashing" of other coins.
Technical Merit and Luster
At the MS65 grade, this coin is defined by its **extraordinary luster**. New Orleans Morgans are often noted for a distinct, satiny "frost" that differs from the proof-like surfaces occasionally seen in Philadelphia strikes. George T. Morgan’s iconic profile of Liberty is rendered with sharp detail, and the MS65 designation ensures that the high points—such as the hair above Liberty's ear and the cotton bolls in her cap—are crisp and free of significant marks. The reverse features the bold bald eagle, where the "O" mint mark is clearly struck above the "DO" in DOLLAR.
Collector Significance
For the numismatist, an 1885-O in Gem condition is a quintessential "type" coin for the New Orleans Mint. It offers a perfect marriage of high technical quality and historical accessibility. As a **MS65 graded specimen**, it stands as a testament to a prolific era of American coinage, offering a level of eye appeal that makes it a standout centerpiece for a specialized Morgan Dollar collection.
| Additional Information | |
|---|---|
| COUNTRY | United States |
| DENOMINATION | $1 |
| EdgeItemKey | 001-080-00559 |
| GRADE | MS65 |
| Inventory Type | Stock |
| MINT MARK | New Orleans |
| stone info | [] |
| Vendor Style Code | 1885 O Morgan $1 |
| YEAR | 1885 |
