1900-O Morgan Silver Dollar NGC MS65 VAM-15A - Great Montana Collection

Top Grade Morgans from the Great Montana Hoard

Morgan Silver Dollars are among the most popular and heavily collected coins of all time! Sadly, of the millions struck from 1878-1921, only a fraction remain today for collectors. In fact, it is estimated that only 15% of ALL Morgans struck exist today – and even fewer exist in uncirculated condition. For years, about the only way to find vintage Morgans was through the discovery of a hoard, but nowadays those hoards simply don’t exist anymore – or so we thought!

Thanks to our connections in the coin world, we have recently uncovered and secured a hoard of more than 10,000 vintage silver dollars that recently came out of Montana. They made up the private collection of a bombastic businessman who had an affinity for coins and a bomb shelter to store them in. But even the 1950s-era fallout shelter wasn’t immune to a band of robbers bent on stealing the hoard that has since gone down in history as the Great Montana Collection. Here’s the story:

During the 1950s and 1960s, Great Falls, Montana businessman Zollie Kelman purchased U.S. silver dollars in official 1,000-coin government bags. He made a deal with an armored car company to drop off the bags at his home on the company’s regular route from Minnesota to Montana. Once he had the bags home, he carefully spread the coins out on his kitchen table where the entire family searched through the pile cherry picking coins for their luster, eye appeal, dates and quality. He later stored the coins in a concrete bomb shelter on his property.

In the 1970s, thanks to Kelman’s gift of gab, the word got out about his valuable hoard. One day, Kelman answered a knock on his door only to find three men in masks barge into his home! They held his family hostage and prepared to tear the home apart in search of the prized coins. Luckily, one family member managed to stay hidden and was able to phone the police. Within minutes, the house was surrounded by law enforcement officers. They freed the family and arrested the robbers. Had the attempted robbery been successful, there may never have been a Great Montana Collection!

GovMint is proud to offer Morgan Silver Dollars from the Great Montana Collection. Worthy of a pedigree, you’ll want to get your hands on the collection that almost got away! Each coin is authenticated, graded, encapsulated and pedigreed by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).

This 1900-O Morgan Silver Dollar is from Kelman’s Great Montana Collection. Graded by NGC to be in Mint State-65 (MS65) condition, this 90% silver San Francisco Mint Morgan is among the finest silver dollars in the entire collection. What also makes this coin extra special is that it also has a VAM designation. A VAM is a Morgan Silver Dollar die variety that has been identified in an all-inclusive book called The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis. The term VAM derives from the first initials of Van Allen's and Mallis' last names. Your coin is classified as a VAM-15A – Doubled Obverse Stars, Clashed Obverse. It features a clashed die with partial incuse left edge from the reverse showing next to Liberty’s head and neck on the obverse.

This coin also comes with a Great Montana Collection (GMC) pedigree label, three storybooks and a certificate of authenticity. Don't miss your chance to add this coin to your own personal Morgan Silver Dollar "Hoard." Order now before this coin is stolen out from under you!