What Is The Obsession With Morgan Dollars With So Many New And Intermediate Coin Collectors?

I like both types about equally

I know quite well that the Morgan has a far longer run than the Peace along with many more VAM varieties, but that don't mean I like the Peace type less...

Yeah, what is up with that? We all know the Ike is the superior American large dollar coin.

No other classic silver (affordable) coin was kept safely stored in vaults for the better part of a century - preserved the "minty freshness" of the strike. They are available by the tons in mint-state - allowing dies studies. Perhaps excepting later date large cents, can't do that with most classic coins unless the anomaly is drastic. No Carson City or New Orleans minted Peace dollars - variety is the spice of life. I think Morgan's design is beautiful. I've been able to acquire a good number of Morgan and Peace dollars in mint state. The Morgan is a higher quality coin without question. If the Peace design had transferred as well in the finished product, I could see myself admiring them almost as much. I've rarely seen a "pretty" Peace dollar minted after 1921. Again as has been said up-thread, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Edited to clarify one point.

I can't really enjoy the Morgans because they're so expensive and so ugly. I guess the Peace dollars are expensive too but at least they're pretty.
(I'd love to get one of those high relief 1921 Peace dollars... but $$$$. Not in this economy.)

It might be that the Morgan is so hyped up because it's that common - it's by far the easiest chance to get a 19th century large silver coin in decent condition (even if we don't limit it to US coins, there's not really anything comparable AFAIK), so a new-to-intermediate collector would have to start with a Morgan if they want a large old silver that they can afford. Obviously the whole Wild West thing doesn't hurt it either.

The popularity of silver dollars has been discussed many times.

1. Big coin
2. Readily available
3. Marketing

I think if it weren't for Morgan dollars, there'd be much less of a numismatic market in the USA.

I love Morgan dollars. I like the design way more than the Peace dollar. George T. Morgan had massive talent. Check out other coins and medals he designed. He trained under William Wyon at The Royal Mint. The Wyons were renowned for their talented engraving during the 19th century.

As others have said, I like that I can get a nice big uncirculated silver coin that is over 100 years old for a fraction of the price of other coins in similar grades during that same time period. I like that many of these coins were stored for decades in bags, giving them all sorts of interesting tones. They were produced at five different mints, giving a nice variety of ways to collect.

I am a new coin collector and I also collect the Morgans. I can second Sap's opinion and also Conder101's opinion.

Its the first US American silver coin that I think is visually pleasing. I can understand that Americans love the earlier US coins just because of ... history, but I think their designs are far way from the European coins from the early to mid 19. century. I personally would never shell out large amounts of money for a capped bust or seated liberty (Look at this eagle! Looks like a rubber chicken!).

Also:

Its big.

Common dates can be had in nice conditions for not so much money, certainly less money than any other larger silver coin from the same era.

It evokes the Wild West era, which was culturally engrained in virtually every european kid growing up in the 20th century after WW2.

Lastly I guess, Morgans are easy to "learn". Thats nice if you are a new collector.

Glad to hear all the viewpoints - especially from those outside the US.

No matter what your taste I agree the attention on Morgans does draw collectors away from other series that offer comparative bargains considering mintages and survival rates. I am of the camp that thinks it better to invest in Two Cent, Three Cent Capped Bust, Seated Liberty Proofs, and (what I can afford) Gold dollars.

I agree in general that European design of coins generally has been better than most US coinage (there are exceptions - St Gauden's work of course and I think those that embrace our American Indian heritage do quite well design-wise). What is overlooked is the fine artistry of US Medallic artist from the late 19th into the 20th century and beyond as well as some of the commemoratives from the first half of the 20th century-- I think that is the area you will find the best designs from the US/