Significantly sharper than the vast majority of coins from this issue; it is also a notable exception to Miller’s observation that “most 1894-O dollars are heavily bagmarked with below average luster.” This example has glossy coruscating lustre, and the only defect would be some marks near Liberty’s lips and nose, which are not readily discernible, and the presence of marks from a coin counting machine on her cheek. The reverse die is slightly rotated to 5:30.

On the rarity of this date in high grade, Bowers wrote in his Encyclopedia: “ The PCGS tour of silver dollars, which took place in 1990 and 1991 and which featured some of the finest certified coins, from various sources, assembled to make up an exhibit collection, had an 1894-0 in just MS-64 grade.” That coin was George Bodway’s; the presently offered coin, therefore, which was certified in 1989, would at that time been tied for the finest example known.

Certificate number: 2274701 (Generation 2.1 holder [October-December 1989]: The PCGS Museum of Coin Holders, notes that this type of holder was in use for a very short period of time and is therefore scarce). PCGS has now graded three hundred and fifty-five of comparable grade; sixty-two at 64+; twelve at 65, and a single 65+ as finest. CAC has certified sixty at this grade and only two (MS 66) finer. (02-18)