1889-S MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR MS65 PCGS GEN 1.2

OMG – I am writing this latest entry into our coin journal for the Rhumba date set of Morgan Dollars still housed in First Generation Holders “Rattlers” – nearly 5 years after starting the quest and only a few months from adding what is likely the biggest coin still in a rattler holder – the latest version of the quest may finally be ACCOMPLISHED. I actually am in a bit of state of shock – hoping I am not dreaming, and that the relatively mundane events of this Saturday morning August 11th, 2018 really did happen as I remember it here for all of you now.

When we last recorded the addition of the 1895-S into our rattler set – we stated that we were ever so close to the final goal of a cumulative grade of MS65 for the 28 coins and that even though the mathematical average of our amazing set was at 65.39826 – The PCGS registry set weighted average only came to 64.9412. Argh!!!! How frustrating is that? The quest originally started with a question shared between my partner and co-author of this book – “Do we think it is even possible to put together a date set of mint state Morgan dollars in First Generation Holders?” – which led to the myths and urban legends that lead to the overall premise of the book – which after 3 years led to the completion of the mint state set – which after realizing it really was possible, led to upping the ante to try to reach a PCGS Registry Set weighted average grade of Mint State 65. Ok time for me to take a breath.

This date, 1889, has been stuck in an MS 64 grade for the better part of 5 years. Despite multiple attempts to purchase an example through Heritage’s make an offer program and years of daily scouring the internet , endless hours calling dealers, countless tradeshows – I had basically written this date off. It was the only “common” date coin that I could not find in MS 65. From our December 1989 population report – here are the quantities of 1889 coins at MS65 or above; 1889 – 195 in MS65,  4 in MS66 and 1 in MS67, 1889-S – 82 in MS65, 5 in MS66, 1889-O – 23 in MS65, 1 in MS66 and finally the 1889-CC – 1 in MS65 – 312 coins in all to get our set to MS65 or better. I am not really sure this quantity is enough to call 1889 a common year – maybe just the 1889 P, so imagine my joy when a better mint mark finally showed up.

It was a Saturday morning and I was out running errands in the gas line at my local Costco store, when I pull out my smart phone and click on one of my saved google links to take me right to E-bay with the search criteria “rattler dollar” set for “newly listed” – where I scan the first two pages for anything that could upgrade any one of our 28 coins which I know will tip the weighted average grade above MS65 – nothing. I need to move my car forward to wait for the next two cars to finish pumping. Then I switch the search to another saved criteria “1889 MS65 dollar” again set for “newly listed” and started the scroll, coin 1 no, coin 2 no, 3 no, 4 no then 5….Shazam!!! Right in front of me appeared an 1889-S in MS65 proudly pictured in a nice First Generation Holder – Now I know I am Dreaming. Quick – check the line of cars and yes, have to move up again. Then return to my phone and there it is just below the picture and price – a “Buy it Now” button – Holy Cannoli – I don’t even have to compete for it! I can hardly contain my excitement, but I do take a moment to double check the date just to make sure it really is an 1889 – it is! Then a final glance at the price $1,450 (which I know by memory is full PCGS retail) and CLICK – The coin is now mine and the quest is DONE – We have not only assembled a complete date set of Morgan Silver Dollars in Mint State – But now have achieved a PCGS weighted average of Mint State 65 – In truth, I still can’t believe it! Hooray for E-Bay, who’d a thunk it!

The journaling part of this quest is now over – The treasure hunting part is NOT over – that is to say that if a coin does appear anytime in the future, even after the book is finished, that we may continue to upgrade the set. In fact I hope I never lose the Treasure Hunting passion and that all of you reading this will be inspired to join the hunt with me. It is time to shift the focus to fully processing, recording, photographing, classifying, interviewing, writing and of course displaying this Rhumba featured set to market the rest of the book. Very cool indeed that the set itself belays one of the strongest held beliefs/myths about the first generation of grading that there are no more good, big coins left in “rattler” holders!