Morgan Silver Dollars

Obverse of 1879 Morgan Type Silver Dollar

USA

Reverse of 1879 Morgan Type Silver Dollar

Reverse of 1884 - CC Morgan Type Silver Dollar

Reverse of 1885 - O Morgan Type Silver Dollar

Reverse of 1881 - S Morgan Type Silver Dollar

Reverse of 1921 - D American Morgan Type Silver Dollar

The Famous Wild West Silver Dollars
The American silver dollars issued between 1878 and 1921 were designed by George T. Morgan, a former pupil of the Wyon's at the Royal Mint in London, and for this reason they are usually known as "Morgan" dollars. They are also known by their alternative name of "Liberty Head" dollars.

Designs
As shown in our photograph, the obverse is a beautifully detailed engraving of the head of Liberty, with the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the date. The reverse features an eagle, its wings spread, arrows and a laurel branch in its talons, within a wreath, with the inscriptions:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ONE DOLLAR
IN GOD WE TRUST

Historic Coins
The large discoveries of silver in America in the late 1800's led to the issue of large numbers of silver dollars. Because these were in use during the "Wild West" days of the 1880's and 1890's, they have achieved lasting fame. The penultimate date was 1904, after which there was a long gap until the final issue in 1921, but the attractive design remained the same.

Rediscovered
During the 1960's, the U.S Treasury discovered many bags of these original dollars, along with the Peace designs, stored as part of its silver reserves. Many bags were still unopened. These were sold by auction or tender, and the large quantities involved meant that many dates, some previously rare, became available at bargain basement prices. We used to sell them at prices between £1 and £1.50 (thirty shillings) each depending on condition which varied from Extremely Fine to Uncirculated. These low prices have helped to make them even more popular!. Since the 1960's prices have increased, and not always steadily, but they remain inexpensive and interesting coins for collectors.

Specifications of Morgan Silver Dollars

Diameter	Weight	Silver Alloy	Silver Content
38.1 mms	26.73 grams	.900	0.7735

Notes to Table
Face Value = Denomination in American Dollars.
Weight = Standard weight in grams.
Silver Content = Fine silver content in troy ounces.
Diameter = Diameter in millimetres.

Information

Date	Mintage
	Philadelphia	Carson City	New Orleans	San Francisco	Denver
1878 Mintmark Set	See Page	See Page	See Page	See Page	See Page
1878	10,509,550	2,212,000	None	9,744,000	None
1879	14,807,100	756,000	2,887,000	9,110,000	None
1880	12,601,335	591,000	5,305,000	8,900,000	None
1881	9,163,975	296,000	5,708,000	12,760,000	None
1882	11,101,100	1,133,000	6,090,000	9,250,000	None
1883	12,291,039	1,204,000	8,725,000	6,250,000	None
1884	14,070,875	1,136,000	9,730,000	3,200,000	None
1885	17,787,767	228,000	9,185,000	1,497,000	None
1886	19,963,886	None	10,710,000	750,000	None
1887	20,290,710	None	11,550,000	1,771,000	None
1888	19,183,833	None	12,150,000	657,000	None
1889	21,726,811	350,000	11,875,000	700,000	None
1890	16,802,590	2,309,041	10,701,000	8,203,373	None
1891	8,694,206	1,618,000	7,954,529	5,296,000	None
1892	1,037,245	1,352,000	2,744,000	1,200,000	None
1893	378,792	677,000	300,000	100,000	None
1894	110,972	None	1,723,000	1,260,000	None
1895	12,800 (Proof Only)	None	450,000	400,000	None
1896	9,967,762	None	4,900,000	5,000,000	None
1897	2,822,731	None	4,004,000	5,825,000	None
1898	5,884,735	None	4,440,000	4,102,000	None
1899	330,846	None	12,290,000	2,562,000	None
1900	8,880,938	None	12,590,000	3,540,000	None
1901	6,962,813	None	13,320,000	2,284,000	None
1902	7,994,777	None	8,636,000	1,530,000	None
1903	4,652,755	None	4,450,000	1,241,000	None
1904	2,788,650	None	3,720,000	2,304,000	None
1921	44,690,000	None	None	21,695,000	20,345,000

Mintmarks
Morgan dollars were struck at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, Denver and Carson City mints. Philadelphia coins do not carry a mintmark, the other mintmarks are to be found below the wreath on the reverse of the coins.
O = New Orleans
S = San Francisco
CC = Carson City
D = Denver

Peace Dollars

USA Coins Index
American Silver Eagles

Order Form - UK
Order Form - USA
Order Form - EU
Order Form - Rest of World

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