Bill Eckberg’s research article in this issue, on the “Science of Half Cent Values,” struck a particular chord with me, because it reminded me of how differently market values are determined in different U.S. coin series.

Demand alone can explain the high values spread across the Morgan dollar series, for example. The scarcest date in the series, the 1893-S, commands a price of $7,500 in VF-20: for an R1, on the Sheldon scale!

The 1889-CC, of which a couple of original bags are still credibly attested, will cost the aspiring owner $25,000 in baggy MS-60! In my opinion, it’s a matter of familiarity breeding demand. Every corner coin shop and flea market will display dozens of Morgan dollars. Buy a few common dates, and you may aspire to go after the scarcer ones. But there’s never any lack of supply. If you’ve got the dollars to spend, someone will have the coins - even an Unc. ‘89-CC.