Throughout the 1840s, the United States Mint struck silver dollars only at the request of bullion depositors who asked for this denomination. There was no significant supply of domestically mined silver available during that decade, limiting the amount of bullion available for dollar coinage. The net result for the silver dollar was a decade of low mintages, the highest only 184,618 pieces in 1842.
The 1845 is one of the lowest mintage silver dollars from the 1840s with just 24,500 circulation strikes produced, second only to the 1844 of which 20,000 were struck. Most silver dollars of that decade circulated domestically, but were valued at a slight premium. Many were exported to Europe, and after 1852 nearly all Liberty Seated dollars were exported to Asia. The small number of coins produced virtually guaranteed that even in worn condition the 1845 is among the scarcest silver dollars of its era. In Mint State the 1845 is a landmark rarity, "the rarest of all Liberty Seated dollars of the 1840s and [maybe] the rarest Philadelphia Mint Liberty Seated dollar, period" (per Q. David Bowers, 1993). In fact, the 1845 is incredibly challenging to locate in Choice Mint State or finer even relative to lower-mintage issues like the 1851 and 1852.
We are thrilled to feature a significant MS-63 (PCGS) example in lot 1022 of our June 2020 Santa Ana Auction. The definition is razor sharp to full throughout the design and the surfaces have a satiny texture overlaid in slightly mottled sandy-olive and antique silver patina. This piece ranks among the finest that PCGS has seen, with only three examples listed in the present grade and a single coin graded MS-64.The importance of this Choice Mint State example for advanced Liberty Seated or silver dollar enthusiasts cannot be overstated.
This MS-63 (PCGS) dollar will be sold in lot 1022 of our June 18-19, 2020 Santa Ana Auction, offered as part of the Dazzling Rarities Collection. This impressive cabinet of high-end US type coins will be featured alongside Vermont coppers from the Q. David Bowers Collection, the Francesca Collection of US Gold Coins, and many other rarities. The sale will be available for bidding and viewing on our website wwww.StacksBowers.com or you may contact us to secure a copy of the printed catalog. Also, download our mobile app to view and participate in our auctions via your Android or Apple device.
