Morgan Dollar Gold Coin Investing Guide

The Morgan Dollar Gold Coin is a classic investment opportunity that's been around for over a century. It was first minted in 1878 and was named after its designer, George T. Morgan.

One of the most significant facts about the Morgan Dollar is that it was made of 90% gold and 10% copper. This composition gave the coin a distinctive appearance and durability.

The Morgan Dollar was minted until 1904, but it was reintroduced in 1921 and continued to be minted until 1935. During this time, over 657 million Morgan Dollars were produced.

Investing in Morgan Dollars can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially for collectors.

Check this out: What Is a 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar Worth

Morgan dollar varieties are a fascinating topic. Hundreds of varieties have been discovered over the years, with some being quite dramatic.

The 1878 Seven/Eight Tail Feathers versions are a notable example of these varieties. They're of general interest to non-specialists.

The 1878/1879/1880 reverse varieties are another example of the many variations that exist. These coins can be closely inspected to reveal subtle yet noteworthy characteristics.

Some of the most sought-after VAM varieties are divided into groups like the "Top 100" and the "Hot 50". These groups are highly prized among collectors.

Millions of Morgan Dollars were dispersed from Treasury vaults in the 1950s and '60s, revealing a fascinating new collecting focus.

The ready availability of uncirculated coins allowed for close inspection of the coins, revealing all manner of variations between dies, some of them quite dramatic.

Hundreds of varieties became known from this extensively studied series of U.S. coinage.

A reference on Morgan varieties was published in 1964, but interest expanded greatly following the 1971 publication of a comprehensive variety book by numismatists Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis.

The most sought-after VAM varieties are divided into various groups, including the "Top 100" and the "Hot 50".

Some of the most interesting varieties include the 1878 Seven/Eight Tail Feathers versions and the 1888-O "Hot Lips" Doubled Die Obverse, which features a dramatic doubling of the design.

The 1899-O Micro O mintmark is another notable variety, where the mintmark is barely visible.

Here are some of the more notable Morgan Dollar varieties:

The Morgan Dollar Design is a masterpiece of its time. The obverse features a somewhat austere Liberty facing left, dominating the design.

Liberty's curled hair, over the forehead and down the back, is topped by a liberty cap with a LIBERTY banner at the front. Above the banner are small branches of wheat, cotton, and maple, adding a touch of elegance.

Forming a concentric circle inside the denticulated rim are E PLURIBUS UNUM at the top, each word separated by a centered dot, and the date at the bottom. The 13 small six-point stars, seven on the left and six on the right, add a sense of balance.

Morgan's initial M is along the truncation of the neck, a subtle touch that sets the coin apart. The reverse shows an eagle with outstretched wings, tips reaching nearly to the denticles encircling the rim.

The eagle's left claw clutches three arrows, the right a solitary olive branch, symbolizing the country's values. Inside the rim is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the top two-thirds and the denomination ONE DOLLAR at the bottom.

A six-pointed star separates ONE and UNITED to the left, and DOLLAR and AMERICA to the right, adding a sense of harmony.

For another approach, see: How Much Silver Is in a Morgan Silver Dollar

The market for certified 1881-CC to 1884-CC Morgan Dollars has been holding steady, according to an in-depth study by CoinWeek contributing writer Tyler Rossi.

These dates were heavily represented in the GSA sales of the 1970s and '80s, making them the most affordable Morgan Dollars from the famous Carson City Mint.

The certified population of the New York Bank Morgan Dollar Hoard, discovered in 2018, showed a range of grades among the coins found in unopened Mint bags.

CoinWeek analyzed the grades of the coins found in what might be one of the last great Morgan Dollar bag hoards, handled by coin dealer Jeff Garrett.

The GSA Hoard of CC-Mint Morgan Silver Dollars was a significant event in the history of Morgan Dollars, with thousands of coins turning up in unopened Mint bags.

Here are some key dates and events related to the Morgan Dollar market:

The Morgan 50 is a fantastic way for collectors to complete a Morgan Dollar registry set without breaking the bank. It features 50 uncirculated Morgan Dollars from all five Morgan-Dollar-producing mints.

This set is designed to be an entry point for collectors, helping them learn about the series in all its intricacies. Collectors can register their sets in the NGC Set Registry or at mycollect.com.

Charles Morgan, editor of CoinWeek, teamed up with Russ Augustin of AU Capital Management and RARCOA to create the Morgan 50. They've produced three planned videos that describe each of the coins in the set.