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1895 Proof

Dollars · Morgan Dollars · 1878–1921
Regular Proof
Weight26.73 g
Diameter38.1 mm
MintPhiladelphia
StrikeProof
Mintage 880 Proof only; no business strikes
EdgeReeded
Alignment↑↓ Coin
Composition90% Silver, 10% Copper
DesignerGeorge T. Morgan
Collector's Key IDCK-4728

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Varieties & References

No additional varieties recorded for this strike.

External references

About this coinHistory

The 1895 Morgan Dollar Proof, widely known as the "King of Morgans," carries unique standing as the only Philadelphia Morgan Dollar issue produced without a surviving business-strike counterpart. The Philadelphia Mint records 12,000 1895 business-strike pieces, but no business strikes are known to exist in collector hands today and the figure is presumed to reflect coins that were melted or never released; only the 880-piece proof issue documented in the Mint Director's annual report remains as the official 1895 Philadelphia Morgan production. The 1895 Proof carries the standard Reverse of 1879 hub configuration with the rounded eagle breast and slanted arrow feathers that define Morgan Dollar reverses from 1879 forward.

Authentication of an 1895 Proof requires careful examination of the strike quality, mirrored field character, and surface preservation under five to ten power magnification. The 1895 Proof shows fully struck Liberty hair detail, complete eagle feather definition, and deep mirror fields that distinguish formal proof production from business-strike prooflike examples. PCGS, the Professional Coin Grading Service, and NGC apply rigorous standards for 1895 Proof authentication, and pedigree documentation accompanies many certified examples. Cameo and Deep Cameo designations command sharp price premiums over standard brilliant proofs, with the 1895 Proof certified population concentrated in Proof-62 through Proof-65 and diminishing sharply at Proof-66 and above.

The 1895 Proof is a regular-classification proof entry on this site under the standard catalog convention for Morgan proofs, with the King of Morgans status and the apex-tier rarity reflected in the prose rather than the badge tier. The 1895 Proof is the most famous proof Morgan Dollar in the series and pairs with the 1894-P, 1895-O, and 1895-S Key Date trio as the apex grouping of the post-Sherman wind-down years. Auction records for high-grade 1895 Proof Cameo and Deep Cameo examples reach six-figure prices, with the finest examples among the most expensive Morgan Dollars in any auction year. For the Bland-Allison Act of 1878 series background and the King of Morgans context, see the Morgan Dollar series history.

Price guideReference

Reference data only — not an appraisal.

GradeDescriptionLowHigh
PR-63 Proof (PR) $56,460 $59,780
Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ
How much is a 1895 Proof Morgan Dollar worth?
In Proof condition it runs about $56,460–$59,780. These are reference values, not an appraisal.
How many 1895 Proof Morgan Dollars were minted?
880 were struck (Proof only; no business strikes).
What is a 1895 Proof Morgan Dollar made of?
90% Silver, 10% Copper, weighing 26.73 g.
What is the melt value of a 1895 Proof Morgan Dollar?
Its melt value is its metal content multiplied by the current spot price. See our melt calculator on the metals pages for a live figure.
Is the 1895 Proof Morgan Dollar a key date?
It's a more common date overall, though scarcer die varieties may carry a premium — see the varieties list.