Description
The Morgan Dollar is one of the most collected
silver coins in our history. This George T. Morgan design is awash with
Western lore and legend. First struck in 1878, it was created to absorb
the fabulous quantity of silver minted from the Comstock Lode.
Design
The head of Lady Liberty takes up most of the
obverse of this coin. She is encircled by the date of issue, thirteen
stars, and the words, 'E ' PLURIBUS ' UNUM'. This phrase, which
translates to 'Out of many, one', was first chosen for official United
States use in 1776.
The reverse features a bald eagle with wings
spread perched upon a branch and arrows. The eagle is partially
surrounded by a wreath. Above his head sits the motto 'In God we
trust'. Around the rim are the words 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'
separated by a star on either side from 'ONE DOLLAR'.
Morgan, who studied under the direction of instructors from the
Royal Mint in London, placed an 'M' on both sides of the coin to lay
his claim to the design. He made slight revisions to the coin's design
when it was reintroduced in 1921.
Minting Information
The largest and heaviest silver coin
since the Civil War, the Morgan silver dollar contains a hefty 0.77344
ounces of pure silver. It was minted continuously from 1878 to 1904
when the government exhausted its supply of silver bullion. Congress
would pass the Pittman Act in 1918, recalling over 270 million silver
dollars for melting and the Morgan dollar would be minted one last year
in 1921 before being replaced by the Peace Silver Dollar.
| Designer: George T. Morgan |
| Gross Weight: 26.73g |
Silver Content: 0.77344 oz. |
| Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Diameter: 38.1mm |
Edge: Reeded |
| Dates: 1878-1904; 1921 |
| Mints: Carson City (1878-1893), Denver (1921 only), New Orleans (1878-1904), Philadelphia (all dates), San Francisco (all dates) |
