question about "history"

MoneyLA

there seem to be a "lot" of high grade morgans from the period 1879-1881 including ms 67s and 68s.

were these coins "specially handled," for example, like mint sets are today?

or did these coins actually survive the usual minting process, bagging, storage, handling, etc.??

IrishMike

The branch mints 79-82 were minted in large numbers, especially the 80 & 81. The coins were not only well struck but on average less coins were struck from the same dies as other years. A lot of them sat around in bank vaults too. So the combination of good strikes, large numbers and fewer die strikes account in large part for the number of high grade coins in those years.

MoneyLA

thanks IrishMike... but please explain the lack of nicks, scratches, etc that you would expect to see from the minting process and dropping into bags, hoppers, and handling of the bags?

that's what amazes me... the lack of damage to the coins after minting-- especially if these coins were not handled specially, and if they also dropped into hoppers, then bags, and then the bags were thrown around... etc.