DENVER, PA.- Morphy Auctions has had a decades-long involvement in the world of rare and antique coins, and on May 19, the Pennsylvania company will mark a milestone with its 187-lot Premier Coins Auction. The sale exclusively features a prestigious single-consignor collection that includes a unique grouping of high-grade Morgan Silver Dollars plus the largest offering of rare Mormon gold coins ever to be publicly auctioned. Seasoned coin collectors would immediately recognize the contents of this fresh-to-the-market trove as being choice and highly unusual. Each and every lot from the collection, which is valued at more than $3 million, will be offered with no reserve.

“There’s no way I can overstate how thrilled we are to be representing this phenomenal legacy collection. We’re deeply honored that we were chosen to handle its sale,” said Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions. “We’ve had a strong involvement with rare coins since first opening our doors and have held many dozens of sales over the years, but this will be, by far, the most important coin auction we’ve ever conducted.”

The array of fabulous Morgan Silver Dollars – named after their designer, US Mint Assistant Engraver George T Morgan – includes exceptional specimens going back to 1878, their first year of production. “Morgans were a popular currency, especially in the American West,” Morphy noted. “They were produced at several mints, including the legendary frontier mint in Carson City, Nevada. The Carson City mint was intentionally located near the rich Comstock Lode, which served as their sole source of silver and gold ore.”



A top entry within the Morgan lineup is an 1893-CC Silver Dollar that was struck during the Carson City Mint’s final year of operation. Morphy explained: “By 1893, the Comstock vein had been completely exhausted. The small Carson City Mint no longer had access to its ore supply, so there was no other option but to close down.” The stellar 1893-CC Morgan $1 coin is PCGS-graded MS65. It has already attracted a $30,000 absentee bid and is expected to sell in the vicinity of $60,000-$90,000.



Also from the Carson City Mint, an 1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar is PCGS-graded MS64 Gold River, an industry reference to the ore’s source, e.g., a river, or area adjacent to a river where gold was once mined. It is estimated at $40,000-$60,000.



An 1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS-graded MS65+ “Capped Die” is CAC certified. This coveted Carson City coin, described as “Capped Die” because of a die anomaly that required it to be restruck, is exceptionally rare. It is estimated that only one-third of the total mintage of 1879-CC Morgan Dollars are of the Capped Die variety, and of those, only 19 examples have been graded in Mint State 65 condition. On top of that, only five such coins are graded even higher, including the MS65+ auction example, which is estimated at $30,000-$50,000.



The auction also contains several highly collectible Morgan Silver Dollars struck at the San Francisco Mint. An 1893-S Morgan, PCGS-graded AU55, comes to auction with an estimate of $35,000-$45,000; while an 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS-graded MS60 is assigned a $30,000-$40,000 estimate.



The spectacular beauty of Cameo Silver Dollars sets them apart from other Morgans. “Cameo” refers to the contrast between the design – whether raised or recessed – and the background field, which renders a frosted appearance with a polished, mirror-like background. The collection’s 1895 Morgan Silver Dollar, PCGS-graded PR63+CAM (Proof Cameo), is CAC-certified and estimated at $40,000-$60,000. An 1896 Morgan is PCGS-graded PR67+DCAM (Deep Cameo), the latter referring to proof coins that exhibit a deep, even frosting on the devices, or design elements, thus creating a strong contrast against a mirrored field. CAC-certified, it has an estimate of $30,000-$40,000.

The Cameo effect adds a gorgeous extra quality to gold coins, as well. A 1900 $20 gold coin in the auction is described as PF64 Ultra Cameo, meaning it exhibits a superior level of cameo contrast as compared to a standard Cameo proof. The estimate on this coin is $50,000-$70,000.

An exciting category that has generated widespread interest since the auction catalog first published online is Mormon gold coinage. Privately issued by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1848 and 1860, Mormon gold coins were struck in $2.50, $5, $10 and $20 denominations. All of the coins were minted in Salt Lake City, initially from gold found at Mormon Island, California, and during the last year of production, from a Colorado source. In total, around 4,000 coins were made, some bearing an inscription in the Deseret alphabet: “Holiness to the Lord.”

“Mormon gold coins are highly prized but very rarely available to purchase,” Dan Morphy said. “There are fifteen of these wonderful coins in our auction, and based on the enquiries so far, the bidding competition is going to very strong on every one of those lots.”



An elusive 1850 Mormon $5 gold coin, NGC-graded AU55+, is embossed on its obverse side with the image of clasped hands in a handshake and encircled with G.S.L.C.P.G. (Great Salt Lake City Pure Gold) and the denomination FIVE DOLLARS. On verso, it is decorated with stars and other iconography, and encircled with Holiness To The Lord. The pre-sale estimate assigned to this fabulous and historically significant coin is $40,000-$60,000.



Minted a decade later and equally rare and sought after, an 1860 Mormon $5 gold coin is PCGS-graded AU53. On its obverse side, it bears the date 1860 and an attractive image of a recumbent lion encircled by an inscription in the Deseret alphabet. On the reverse, it shows a spread-winged eagle perched on a bundle of arrows known as “fasces” and encircled with the phrase DESERET ASSAY OFFICE / PURE GOLD / 5D,’ with a superimposed beehive, representing the desired virtue of “industry.” Like the 1850 $5 coin, its auction estimate is $40,000-$60,000.



As all coin collectors will attest, you can never have too much of a good thing, so there’s one more show-stopping auction entry to tempt gold connoisseurs. Weighing in a 48.70oz, a Kellogg & Humbert Assayers gold bar is a dazzler, embossed with the assayers’ name as well as No. 491, 871 FINE, and the price $876.85. Many are adding gold to their investment portfolios these days, and what better form could a precious metal take than this hefty statement piece, which is on target to sell in the range of $120,000-$160,000.

Dan Morphy looks forward to greeting coin collectors and investors at the Monday, May 19, 2025 no-reserve Premier Coins Auction, which will be held at Morphy’s flagship gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Auction lots may be previewed by appointment only during regular business hours. In addition to live in-gallery bidding, all forms of remote bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone, and live via the Internet through Morphy Live. For additional information about any item in the auction, to make a preview appointment, or to reserve a phone line for bidding, call 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. Online: www.morphyauctions.com