Diagnostic Controls & Presets King of Morgan Dollars
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
Struck during the Panic of 1893. Nearly the entire mintage was dumped into commercial circulation in Nevada and California, leaving almost zero mint-state survivors.
Because only a single obverse die was used to strike all 100,000 coins, every genuine 1893-S shares identical die markers!
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
The world record for a circulation-strike Morgan silver dollar. Dazzling pristine luster with needle-sharp breast feathers.
Classic honest western circulation wear, verified with the distinctive die gouge inside the 'T' of LIBERTY.
Common 1893 Philadelphia coin with an embossed mintmark; lacked the mandatory 'T' die gouge entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 1893-S Morgan Silver Dollar called the 'King of Morgan Dollars'?
With a mintage of only 100,000 coins, the 1893-S has the lowest mintage of any regular business-strike Morgan dollar. Unlike other low-mintage dates that were stored in Treasury bags, the 1893-S was immediately released into circulation during the economic depression of the Panic of 1893, making uncirculated examples extraordinarily rare.
What is the #1 forensic diagnostic to verify a genuine 1893-S Morgan Dollar?
Because all 100,000 coins were struck from a single obverse die, ALL genuine 1893-S dollars share identical die markers. The most famous is a distinct raised die gouge inside the upper crossbar of the 'T' in 'LIBERTY' on Miss Liberty's coronet. If the 'T' has no die gouge, the coin is almost certainly counterfeit!
What does the mintmark on a genuine 1893-S look like?
On a genuine 1893-S, the 'S' mintmark is tilted slightly clockwise, and its upper serif is positioned very close to the left loop of the ribbon bow beneath the eagle's tail feathers.
Why are there so many counterfeit 1893-S Morgan dollars?
Because a genuine 1893-S is worth $3,500 even in heavily worn Good-4 condition and $100,000+ in mint state, fraudsters routinely alter common coins. Common tricks include gluing or embossing an 'S' onto a Philadelphia 1893 dollar, or carving the last '8' on an 1898-S into a '3'.
How can you detect an added 'S' mintmark counterfeit?
Under 30x stereo microscope inspection: 1. Look for a circular seam or solder trace around the mintmark. 2. Check the obverse 'T' in 'LIBERTY' for the mandatory die gouge. 3. Check for disrupted toning or chemical residue where the donor mintmark was bonded.
How many Mint State (uncirculated) 1893-S Morgan dollars survive?
Numismatic experts estimate that fewer than 100 to 120 uncirculated specimens survive today. In Gem MS-65 or higher, fewer than 15 examples are known to exist.
How much is an 1893-S Morgan Dollar worth?
In low circulated condition (G-4 to VG-8), genuine specimens command $3,500 to $5,000. In Very Fine (VF-20 to 35), they bring $7,000 to $12,000. In About Uncirculated (AU-50 to 58), they sell for $35,000 to $75,000. In Gem MS-65, they exceed $500,000, with the finest known MS-67 specimen selling for over $2 million.