$1 · Silver · 1878–1904 and 1921
Morgan Silver Dollar
A large silver dollar shaped by western silver production, federal monetary policy, mass storage, melting, and one of the broadest collector followings in United States numismatics.
- Designer
- George T. Morgan
- Classic dates
- 1878–1904 and 1921
- Mint facilities
- Philadelphia, Carson City, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Denver
01 · Overview
Why the Morgan Silver Dollar matters
The Bland-Allison Act restored standard silver-dollar production at 26.73 grams and .900 fineness. George T. Morgan's design entered production in 1878 and was struck through 1904, then returned for one year in 1921 under the requirements of the Pittman Act.
Morgan dollars were produced in enormous quantities, stored in Treasury vaults, released over decades, and melted in large numbers. As a result, original mintage is only one part of an issue's present-day availability.
02 · Design
Reading the design
Obverse
Liberty faces left wearing a cap, agricultural elements, and a crown inscribed LIBERTY. E PLURIBUS UNUM, thirteen stars, and the date frame the portrait.
Reverse
An eagle with outstretched wings holds arrows and an olive branch within a wreath. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GOD WE TRUST, and ONE DOLLAR complete the design. The mint mark, when present, is below the wreath.
03 · Specifications
Nominal issue specifications
- Denomination
- $1
- Composition
- 90% silver, 10% copper
- Nominal weight
- 26.73 g
- Actual silver weight
- 0.77344 troy oz
- Diameter
- 38.1 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
Nominal specifications describe regular classic issues. Patterns, proofs, special strikes, production tolerances, and later commemorative or modern versions may differ.
04 · Chronology
The series in stages
01
First year · 1878
Multiple reverse hubs and eagle-tail-feather configurations make 1878 a specialized attribution year. A precise listing should identify a recognized variety only when it has been verified.
02
Multi-mint production · 1878–1904
Philadelphia, Carson City, New Orleans, and San Francisco contributed to the classic run. Production stopped after 1904 when bullion supply and policy conditions changed.
03
Return in 1921
Morgan production resumed at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco to replace silver dollars melted under the Pittman Act. Later in 1921, the Peace dollar replaced the design.
05 · Examination
What photographs should help you examine
Cheek and open fields
Liberty's cheek and the field before her face are prominent focal areas. Contact marks here often influence the visual quality of an otherwise lustrous coin.
Strike and luster
Hair above the ear, cotton leaves, and eagle breast feathers help reveal strike quality. Cartwheel luster should move continuously under rotating light; static photographs should still show whether the surfaces appear lively or muted.
Toning and surface alteration
Silver can tone in many patterns and colors. Toning alone does not establish originality or value. Look for natural transitions, underlying luster, and any evidence of cleaning or artificial surface work.
06 · Before buying
Questions the listing should answer
01
Date and mint are only the beginning
A mintage figure records production, not the number surviving in a particular grade. Distribution, melting, storage, bag handling, and later collector demand all affect availability. Compare the complete issue and condition before drawing conclusions from mintage alone.
02
Surface quality can separate coins in the same grade
Two coins with the same assigned grade can differ in luster, strike, marks, toning, and overall visual balance. Large silver-dollar fields make abrasions and friction particularly visible, so photographs matter.
03
Verify attribution before paying for it
Mint mark, recognized variety, special finish, and holder designation should agree with the coin and its certification record. Do not assume that an undocumented nickname or seller description establishes a variety.
07 · Sources
Primary references
This guide is educational and intentionally type-level. Issue-specific attribution, mintage, certification, and condition should be verified for the individual coin.