The Morgan Silver Dollar

n Silver Dollar is a special coin made in the United States as a result of the Bland-Allison Act of 1878. The late 1850s brought about one of the largest silver strikes to ever be seen in Nevada: the Comstock Lode. This strike devastated the prices of silver everywhere. The Bland-Allison Act was initiated by Congress to get the Treasury Department to buy up large quantities of silver and have it made into coins. The answer was to make them into silver dollars.

Morgan Silver Dollar Design

Morgan Dollars have a specific design that came about through the talent of George T. Morgan. Morgan had previously been a pupil of the Wyon's at the Royal Mint in London. He then enjoyed a position of assistance engraver. Morgan Silver Dollars are also often referred to as Liberty Head Dollars because of their design. The front of the coin has the head of Lady Liberty engraved into it with the date on the bottom and E PLURIBU UNUM on the top. Seven stars are on the left of the coin and six on the right. The reverse of the Morgan have an eagle with its wing spread out and arrows in its left talon and a laurel branch in its right. A wreath encircles the bottom half of the eagle and ONE DOLLAR is on the bottom of the coin. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is on the upper part of the Morgan dollar.

Characteristics of the Morgan Silver Dollar

Morgan Silver Dollars were made between 1878 and 1921 and have made a lasting impression with the public and coin collectors. They were struck in several mints including New Orleans, Philadelphia, Carson City and San Francisco. Although those minted in Philadelphia will not have a mintmark, the other Morgan Silver Dollars will have the designated initial (O for New Orleans, CC for Carson City and S for San Francisco) located on the reverse of the coin right below the wreath. The Morgan Silver Dollar has a weight of 26.73 grams with a diameter of 38.1 mms. They are made with a silver content of 0.7735.

Varieties of the Morgan Silver Dollar

Although the Morgan Silver Dollars are unique and special enough to keep the world interested in them for over a century, they're also sought after for the many varieties that went into their design and development. Some of the coins have an almost mirror-like appearance on both the front and reverse while others have a more heavy frosted appearance. Most of the Morgans with these characteristics were minted in San Francisco prior to 1883 and have a higher value than a regular coin of the same value and grade. Some of the Morgan dollars have a reflective surface but are not mirrored and are referred to as Prooflike coins. These are also worth more money. Collectors looking for higher valued Morgans generally collect the ones minted in Carson City because there are fewer of them and they symbolize the old west, giving them a historical value.

Tagged as: Bland Allison Act, Silver Content, T Morgan