The Morgan Silver Dollar is a stunning coin with a rich history. It was first minted in 1878 and was produced until 1904, with a brief revival in 1921.
The coin's size is 38.1 mm in diameter, which is slightly larger than a quarter. This size made it easy to handle and gave it a commanding presence.
The Morgan Silver Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan and was named after the Secretary of the Treasury, George Morgan. The coin's design has remained largely unchanged since its introduction.
The Morgan Silver Dollar has been a popular choice among collectors and investors due to its beauty and historical significance.
Design and History
The Morgan Silver Dollar's design was heavily influenced by George T. Morgan, a young engraver from England who was brought over to the US Mint in Philadelphia. Morgan's design was chosen over Charles Barber's by Director Henry Linderman, who was impressed by Morgan's use of a real American woman as the model for Lady Liberty.
Morgan's model, Anna Willess Williams, was a local teacher who was initially reluctant to pose for the design, but eventually agreed under the condition that her identity would not be revealed. Her profile was considered the most perfect Morgan had seen in America.
The Morgan Silver Dollar was minted from 1878 to 1904, with one reissue in 1921, and featured a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper.
The Designer: G.T
George T. Morgan was the designer behind the Morgan Dollars. He was born in Birmingham, England in 1845.
Morgan worked as an engraver for the Royal Mint in London before being recruited as a "Special Engraver" for the U.S. Mint's Philadelphia branch. He was brought over from England to the U.S. Mint by Director Henry Linderman.
Morgan's design for the Morgan Dollar was chosen over those of his competitors, William and Charles Barber. Linderman preferred Morgan's design, which is why it was selected.
Anna Williams, a Philadelphia school teacher, was used as a model for Lady Liberty in one of Morgan's Half Dollar patterns in 1877. Her Greek profile was almost ideal for the design.
The Bland-Allison Act of 1878 led to Morgan expanding his design to the size of the Silver Dollar. This design became the model for the Silver Dollars approved by the Act.
Coin Design
The Morgan Dollar's design was heavily influenced by George T. Morgan's desire to depict a real American woman on the new silver coinage.
Morgan based his design on local teacher Anna Willess Williams, who had a Greek profile that he considered almost ideal. Her profile was used for an 1877 pattern half dollar, and Morgan later expanded it to the size of the silver dollar.
Morgan's design was chosen over Charles Barber's design, and it ultimately became the iconic Morgan Dollar. The design featured a profile of an American woman, which was a departure from the traditional Liberty Seated design that had been in use since 1836.
The Morgan Dollar was composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, and it had a diameter of 38.1 mm and a weight of 0.77344 oz. pure silver.
Specifications
The Morgan Silver Dollar is a beautiful coin, and understanding its specifications can be really helpful if you're collecting or just interested in learning more. The coin is available in both circulated and uncirculated versions.
The diameter of the Morgan Silver Dollar is 38.1 mm, which is a standard size for many coins. The thickness is slightly varied, ranging from 2.4 mm to 3.1 mm, depending on the minting details.
The net fine weight of the coin is 0.7734 ozt, which is a significant amount of silver. The weight is also substantial, coming in at 26.73 grams.
Here are the key specifications of the Morgan Silver Dollar at a glance:
The coin is made of 90% silver and 10% copper, which gives it a unique composition.
Silver Dollar History
The Morgan Silver Dollar has a rich history that's worth exploring. The coin was first minted in 1878 after the largest silver strike in the world, the 1859 Comstock Lode in Nevada.
The Comstock Lode was a massive silver deposit named after Henry Comstock, who was a part-owner of the property where it was discovered in June 1859. This huge silver strike led to a flood of silver to the market.
The Coinage Act of 1873 put an end to silver coinage in the US due to dropping values. The Bland-Allison Act of 1878 brought silver back as legal tender, requiring the US Treasury to purchase silver and mint 2 million silver dollars per month.
The Morgan Dollar was minted until 1904, with a reissue in 1921 after the Pittman Act of 1918 led to the melting down of over 270 million stored Morgan Silver Dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the diameter of a peace dollar?
The diameter of a Peace dollar is 1.5 inches (38 mm). This larger size was a characteristic of Peace dollars minted from 1840 to 1978.
Sources
- https://coinappraiser.com/coin-category/morgan-dollar/
- https://www.sbcgold.com/buy-gold-and-silver/the-morgan-silver-dollar/
- https://franklinmint.com/blogs/history-of-coins/the-history-of-the-morgan-silver-dollar
- https://cointrackers.com/morgan-silver-dollars/
- https://www.mintstategold.com/investor-education/cat/popular-coin-history/post/morgan-silver-dollar/
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