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The 1898-S Morgan Silver Dollar is a desirable and relatively affordable example of late 19th-century San Francisco mint coinage. Struck during a time when the Morgan dollar was still being produced in large numbers despite declining use in commerce, the 1898-S is a coin that combines historical significance, striking beauty, and strong collector appeal. This particular specimen, certified AU55 by NGC, sits at the upper end of the About Uncirculated scale and showcases excellent detail and luster with only slight wear on the highest points. As a representative of both the prolific Morgan dollar series and the esteemed San Francisco Mint, it holds lasting value among type collectors and series specialists alike.
The Morgan dollar series began in 1878 and continued through 1904 before a final issue in 1921. Named after its designer, George T. Morgan, the coin was created in response to the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, which required the U.S. Treasury to purchase large quantities of silver and convert them into silver dollars. Though silver dollars circulated less frequently in the East, they were widely used in the West, where coinage from the San Francisco Mint, such as the 1898-S Morgan, played an important economic role. These coins served banks, railroads, and merchants in a region still growing rapidly at the close of the 19th century.
The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Liberty facing left, wearing a Phrygian cap with a ribbon inscribed “LIBERTY.” Cotton and wheat sprigs are interwoven into her hair to symbolize the agricultural wealth of the United States. “E PLURIBUS UNUM” arches above her, while thirteen stars and the date “1898” appear below. This design, based on a Philadelphia schoolteacher named Anna Willess Williams, was Morgan’s attempt to give America a fresh, modern, and nationally distinctive personification of Liberty—departing from the classical Greek styling of earlier coinage.
The reverse design features a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings, holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons, symbolizing peace and military readiness. A laurel wreath curls around the eagle from below, and the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “ONE DOLLAR” encircle the design. Above the eagle’s head is the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The “S” mintmark, indicating the San Francisco Mint, is found just below the wreath. The entire design is enclosed in a rim with denticles, giving the coin a bold and balanced appearance that contributed to the Morgan dollar’s enduring popularity.
In 1898, the San Francisco Mint struck 4,102,000 Morgan dollars. This mintage places the 1898-S issue in the middle range for the series, making it more available than the key dates but still somewhat scarce in high grades. Many coins entered circulation and saw extensive use in the western United States, which means that uncirculated examples are less common than circulated ones. Nevertheless, enough coins were preserved to satisfy demand from collectors, particularly in About Uncirculated grades like AU55, which offer near-Mint State eye appeal at a fraction of the price.
The San Francisco Mint had a strong reputation for producing well-struck, high-quality coinage. Compared to coins from the New Orleans or Carson City mints, San Francisco Morgan dollars often exhibit better detail, particularly on Liberty’s hair and the eagle’s breast feathers. The 1898-S is no exception; most examples show solid strikes and pleasing surfaces, especially in AU and Mint State grades. Collectors often prefer San Francisco coins for their combination of quality craftsmanship and historical connection to the American West during a transformative period of expansion and industrialization.
Graded AU55 by NGC, this coin falls just below Mint State but retains nearly all of its original design elements and much of its mint luster. AU55 coins exhibit only light friction on the high points of the design—typically Liberty’s cheek and hair or the eagle’s breast and wing tops. The luster may be slightly diminished from circulation, but most of the coin’s surfaces remain bright and attractive. In many cases, AU55 coins are visually comparable to MS60 examples, especially when well-preserved and free from distractions like heavy marks or discoloration.
NGC certification ensures that the coin is authentic and accurately graded according to industry standards. As one of the top third-party grading services, NGC provides confidence and transparency to collectors and investors alike. The AU55 grade signifies a coin with only slight wear, good eye appeal, and no major impairments. While the price difference between AU55 and MS61 or MS62 examples can be considerable, the visual difference is often subtle—making AU55 coins an appealing option for those seeking a balance of quality and value.
The 1898-S is an excellent choice for collectors assembling a complete date and mintmark set of Morgan dollars or for those focusing on San Francisco mint issues. Its availability in AU condition makes it a practical acquisition, while its above-average strike quality and respectable mintage give it broader numismatic appeal. It also offers historical resonance, having circulated at a time when the United States was emerging as a global industrial power and was engaged in the Spanish-American War, which marked the beginning of the U.S. as a colonial force.
Examples like this 1898-S AU55 coin serve as reminders of a dynamic period in American history. Their silver content, artistry, and regional mint origin give them both intrinsic and collectible value. While not a key date in the strictest sense, the 1898-S is far from common in higher grades, and AU55 represents a high-quality, nearly uncirculated survivor from a mint known for excellence. For many collectors, this coin represents the sweet spot between affordability and desirability within the Morgan series.
The Certified 1898-S Morgan Silver Dollar in AU55 condition is an attractive and collectible piece of American numismatic history. It blends a sharp strike, historical relevance, and a pleasing grade that captures the essence of the Morgan series at its most accessible and attractive. Whether added to a growing Morgan dollar set, acquired for investment, or appreciated as a snapshot of turn-of-the-century San Francisco minting, this coin offers lasting appeal and enduring value in one of the most iconic coin series in American history.