How come on eBay some of these 1884 us coins are worth in the thousands of dollars and sone onlu a few dollars?

Answer 1

There are a couple of reasons.

First, not everyone who posts on eBay is fully knowledgeable about the coins they're selling and may not have had them certified and graded.

But for the majority of sellers who do know what they're talking about, the value of an 1884 Morgan dollar (and of many many other coins) can be radically different depending on a number of factors. In this coin's case, its mint mark and its condition can have a huge effect, and the "why" can be complicated. For example:

> a Philadelphia issue (no mint mark) is very common and is worth anywhere from $17 to a couple of hundred dollars unless it's in absolutely top condition.

> a Carson City coin (CC) is rarer but many high-quality ones were saved, so its value is relatively high in lower grades but doesn't increase much as you go up the scale.

> a San Francisco coin (S) is the opposite of a CC one - 1884 is a common date in lower grades but extremely rare in top condition, so its value goes sky-high.

Please see the Related Question for specific values.