This is a small article I found discussing some of the History behind the
Morgan dollar. I hope every one can contribute something interesting on topic.We can learn more about specific mints, errors, and, rare dates. If you are also an expert or, specialize in Morgans be sure to post.
Thank you for you contibutions.
Morgan dollars:
Named after designer James T. Morgan, the
Morgan dollar is also known as the Liberty Head dollar because of the radiant, dignified profile of Miss Liberty featured on the obverse. The model who sat for this famous portrait, a school teacher named Anna W. Williams, gained international celebrity as "Miss Liberty." The reverse of the
Morgan dollar depicts the inspiring image of an American Eagle, standing tall with widespread wings, perched confidently upon the olive branch of peace and the arrows of military strength, signaling a new era of American strength and prosperity.
Although
Morgan dollars were minted in large quantities from 1878 through 1904, when production ended because of a silver shortage, very few have survived until today. As result of the Pittman Act of 1918, nearly 270 million
Morgan dollars were melted down into silver bars for export, causing some dates to become rare. Further melting occurred in the 1960s and 1980s when silver prices skyrocketed. Only about 17% of the total number of
Morgan silver dollars minted have survived, and only a tiny fraction of those in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, making them genuinely scarce coins
Morgan silver dollars are the most popular and widely collected of all U.S. silver coins. Minted between 1878 and 1904, and again in 1921, in Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City, these classic silver coins served as the backbone of daily commerce, both nationally and internationally, for decades. Today
Morgan dollars are avidly sought by collectors worldwide for their beautiful design and rich history. Investors love them for their high silver content, superb minting, and excellent leverage to the silver market. We love these true American classics as one of the most fascinating coins and best silver investments on the market today.
Major key dates include 1895, 1893-S, 1895-O, 1892-S, 1889-CC, 1884-S and 1879-CC. Mint records show that 12,000 business-strike dollars were made in Philadelphia in 1895, but only proofs are known; the mintage of these is 880. Proofs were made for every year in the series, but only a few brilliant proofs-variously reported at 15 to 24-are known for 1921. Prooflike Morgans also are highly prized and are collected in both Prooflike (PL) and Deep-Mirror Prooflike (DPL or DMPL)
More than half a billion
Morgan dollars were struck from 1878 through 1904, with production taking place at the main mint in Philadelphia and the branches in New Orleans, San Francisco and Carson City. Carson City production was generally much lower and ended altogether after that branch was closed in 1893. The coin came back for one final curtain call in 1921, when more than 86 million examples were produced under the terms of the Pittman Act at Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver-but that was a double-edged sword: Under the 1918 legislation, more than 270 million older silver dollars, almost all Morgans, had been melted. The law required replacements for these, but most were of the Peace design, which replaced the Morgan version at the end of 1921.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Diameter: 38.1 millimeters Weight: 26.73 grams Composition: .900 silver, .100 copper Edge: Reeded Net Weight: .77344 ounce pure silver
Posted 01/25/2006 9:29 pm
