PCGS No: 7330, 87330, 97330

Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 12,000 (experts believe these were all melted down...the circulated examples that are known appear to be worn Proofs)
Proofs: 880+

Designer: George T. Morgan

Diameter: 38.1 millimeters

Metal Content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%

Weight: 26.73 grams

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) below the center of the wreath on the reverse

Notes:
Called the "King of Morgan Dollars", the 1895 is one of the most desirable and sought-after dates in the series.  Although Mint records indicate a mintage of 12,000 circulation strikes, experts believe that only 880 Proofs were made in 1895.  The existence of several circulated examples confuses the issue, but those are believed to have been Proofs that were spent inadvertently.  Ownership of this popular rarity is the true measure of completeness for a collection of Morgan Dollars - the 1895 Proof is the only real "stopper" in the series. 

Presumably, Proofs can be told apart from potential circulation strikes by the number of edge "reeds" (the raised "bumps" on the edge of the coin).  Proofs will have 179 "reeds", whereas circulation strikes will have some other number.

PCGS has graded more Proofs of this date than any other, although the number may be inflated due to re-submissions.  A surprising percentage of the coins examined by PCGS have been "spent" Proofs - 68 coins have been certified below Proof-60.  The finest 1895 Silver Dollars graded by PCGS are a single PR-68, 4 PR-67 Cameos, and a single PR-68 Deep Cameo.
   

Images courtesy of Superior Galleries

Significant examples:
NGC Proof-68 (illustrated above)
- Superior 1/2005:904

PCGS PR-67, Superb!
- Superior Galleries 10/2000:3715, $41,400.00

PCGS Proof-66
- Bowers & Merena 07/2002:516, $50,600.00

Recent appearances:
PCGS Proof-64
- Bowers and Merena 10/2000:1577, $33,350.00

NGC Proof-64
- Bowers & Merena 06/2001:1139, $25,875.00

"Choice Brilliant Proof"
- Stack's 12/2003:644, $24,150.00

PCGS Proof-62
- Superior 6/1988:5435
- Superior 05/3084, $24,150.00

PCGS Proof-62
- Heritage 08/2000:6413, $1,063.75

PCGS Proof-61
- Jeff Hosford
- Heritage 08/2000:6412, $18,975.00

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"The PCGS Population Report, April 2003" by The Professional Coin Grading Service

"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen

"Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States and Colonial Proof Coins 1722-1977" by Walter Breen