The 1889-S Morgan silver dollar, while not incredibly rare, can be quite valuable in high grades, especially compared to its common counterpart, the 1889 Morgan dollar minted in Philadelphia. Here's a breakdown of what affects the value of your specific coin:

High Grade:

• Grading Service: Reputable third-party grading services like PCGS or NGC assign a numerical grade (typically on a 70-point scale) reflecting the coin's condition. The higher the grade, the more valuable the coin. For a high-grade 1889-S Morgan, you'd be looking at MS65 (Mint State 65) or better.
• Specific Grade: Even slight differences in grade can significantly impact value. An MS66 will be worth more than an MS65, and so on.

Better Date:

• This term is used by collectors to refer to coins minted after a specific year that are generally more valuable due to lower mintage or increased collector demand. In this case, the 1889-S is considered a "better date" compared to the more common 1889 Morgan dollar from the Philadelphia mint.

Here's a value range for high-grade 1889-S Morgan dollars:

• MS65: $3,000 - $5,000+
• MS66: $5,000 - $10,000+
• MS67 (and above): These become increasingly rare and valuable, potentially reaching tens of thousands of dollars.

Additional Factors:

• Toning: As with many silver coins, toning can add or detract from value depending on its aesthetic qualities. Attractive toning can enhance the coin's beauty and command a premium, while unattractive toning can decrease its value.
• Luster: A high-grade coin will typically retain some mint luster, which adds to its value.
• Strike: A well-struck coin with sharp details is more desirable and valuable.

Recommendations:

• To determine the exact value of your coin, consider getting it professionally graded by PCGS or NGC. This will authenticate the coin and assign an accurate grade which directly affects value.
• Look for online auction results and sales of similar graded 1889-S Morgan dollars to get an idea of current market prices.