what makes a 1896 silver dollar rare with no mint mark

[DelStephanie]

Based on general numismatic knowledge, as the provided search context is not relevant to the question, an 1896 silver dollar with no mint mark is not considered rare in most conditions. The absence of a mint mark on a Morgan silver dollar from this era simply indicates that it was produced at the Philadelphia Mint, which was the main U.S. Mint at the time and did not use a mint mark on its coins.

The Philadelphia Mint produced over 9.9 million of these dollars in 1896, making it a very common issue within the Morgan dollar series, especially in circulated, lower grades. Therefore, the lack of a mint mark itself does not contribute to rarity.

What makes a specific 1896 Philadelphia Morgan dollar rare and valuable is its physical condition, or grade. Most of these coins saw extensive circulation, so examples in well-worn condition are abundant and carry little value over their silver content. However, a coin that was preserved in pristine, uncirculated condition is much scarcer. The rarity and value increase dramatically in higher Mint State grades (such as MS-65 and above) or if the coin is a special "proof" striking, which had a much lower mintage and was made for collectors. In summary, the rarity of an 1896 silver dollar is determined by its state of preservation, not the fact that it was minted in Philadelphia and thus has no mint mark.