Category Archives: George T. Morgan

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1905 Lewis and Clark Expo Coins and Medals From the U.S. Mint

By Vic Bozarth for PCGS ……
We wind our way to 1905 in this series covering the coins, medals, and tokens produced in conjunction with the seven largest expositions and world’s fairs held between 1876 and 1926 in the United States. Technically, the 1905 exposition is not considered a “world’s fair” by the Bureau of International Expositions. However, many Americans, especially numismatists, include the Lewis and Clark Expo of 1905, held in Portland, Oregon, on the list because of the two commemorative gold dollars it spawned and the historical significance of both the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Oregon Trail itself.

The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition commemorated the 100th anniversary of an expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark from St. Louis to the Pacific Coast. Their journey began in 1803 and was to help explore and survey land recently acquired in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

While commemorating a significant historical event, the exposition in Portland, Oregon in 1905 was held just seven months after the conclusion of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. However, that event had purposely been postponed an entire year to allow greater participation including the 1904 Olympic Games and the 1904 Democratic National Convention.

Selling the Concept of a Fair

The Oregon Historical Society suggested the centennial celebration to “sell” the idea of the exposition, but ultimately it was all about promoting local and state business in Oregon. After all, the four prior United States expositions had been successful in terms of both promotion of their respective city or region and numerous advertising opportunities.

Local officials and dignitaries were able to unify behind the exposition theme: “Westward The Course of Empire Takes Its Way”. The real motivation behind the event was to promote Pacific trade. Once the idea was sold to a handful of businessmen and companies who invested funds, the backing for the exposition–including funds from the state–fell into place rather quickly.

The success of both the Columbian and Louisiana Purchase World’s Fairs in terms of advertising was hard to argue against. How can anyone buy a new product if they don’t know about it or where to buy it? Remember, there was no radio or television advertising at that time. Newspapers and circulars were the news outlets of the day.

And word of mouth, especially when it was something new, was a big deal!

Nearly 20 million visitors had attended the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, but regardless of the short period of time between that event and the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, the Portland expo drew nearly 1.6 million paid visitors (50 cents admission for adults and 25 cents for children) and saw more than 2.5 million total visitors. The vast majority of those attending were from the Pacific Northwest, with only six percent of the total attendance visiting from east of the Mississippi River.

While “Westward The Course of Empire Takes Its Way” was the theme of the fair, the overall goal was trade with our Pacific Rim neighbors, including Japan and China. Portland was a major economic center near the West Coast, with the Northern Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific railroads all having a terminus there. There is no question that the promoters had a strong international trade pitch with railroads from Portland serving (or connecting to) the entire U.S.

Oregon boasted several natural resources, but the two most noteworthy were wheat and lumber. Much of the wheat from the Northwest was milled in Portland at one of the largest flour mills in the West. Oregon’s timber industry was also exceptionally strong, with Oregon ranking second in wooded acreage in the U.S. and leading the nation in standing lumber with 300,000,000 board feet.

As early as 1895, a local dry goods merchant named Dan McAllen suggested that Portland needed “some sort of international fair” to “mark the new century and pull itself out of its economic slump.” Nothing happened for several years while economic conditions weren’t favorable, but by the middle of 1900 the idea of a fair was more attractive.

J.M. Long of the Portland Board of Trade is credited with bringing together a provisional committee that started preparations for a fair. Shortly after, a permanent board was established with Portland General Electric Company head Henry W. Goode as president.

Much of the success of the Portland expo was due to the cooperation of a fairly large group of local businessmen who either served on the board and/or donated substantial funds. Like successful fairs held previously, the overall unity in purpose embraced by the backers of the fair could be credited for much of the fair’s profit, too.

1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Coins and Medals

The 1904 and 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition Gold Dollars feature the only U.S. coin design with a two-head design (the two explorers both have a bust portrait on the coin, one appearing on the obverse and the other on the reverse). They were also the only U.S. commemorative gold dollars struck and dated in multiple years.

The Lewis and Clark Exposition Dollars were struck in 1904 and 1905 by the United States Mint. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
The Lewis and Clark Exposition Dollars were struck in 1904 and 1905 by the United States Mint. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
  • PCGS #7447 – 1904 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar, 10,025 minted
  • PCGS #7448 – 1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollar, 10,041 minted

Much like the 1893 Isabella Quarter from the Columbian Exposition, both the 1904 and 1905 Lewis and Clark Gold Dollars are scarce today and command a significant premium. Conversely, the nation’s first two commemorative gold dollars, the 1903 Jefferson and McKinley Gold Dollars, sold in much larger numbers. This is most likely due to the overall larger attendance of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition versus that of the Lewis and Clark expo. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition drew 20 million versus the 2.5 million who attended the Lewis and Clark expo; thus, the Lewis and Clark expo offered a much smaller market.

Both of the Lewis and Clark Gold Dollars saw greater numbers produced than sold, but the unsold examples of each were melted quickly. Regardless of the surviving mintage of either, the scarcity and prices for both the coins, not to mention the medals, from the Portland expo are due to the smaller number of initial sales.

The Official Souvenir Dollar

The official souvenir dollar was designed by Mint Engraver George T. Morgan and struck at the expo by the United States Mint on the fairgrounds at an exhibit in the government building. They measure 34 millimeters in diameter and were struck in various metals.

The official souvenir dollar of the Lewis and Clark Exposition. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
The official souvenir dollar of the Lewis and Clark Exposition. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
  • PCGS #642740, HK-325 – 1905 L&C Souvenir Medal, .990-fine silver / 306 grains; issued for $1.25 (Rarity-5)
  • PCGS #642671, HK-326 – Gilt-Bronze / 250 grains; issued for 50 cents (R-5)
  • PCGS #642672, HK-327 – Bronze BN / 250 grains; issued for 25 cents (R-5)
  • PCGS #642673 – Bronze RB; “
  • PCGS #642674 – Bronze RD; “
  • PCGS #620670, *HK-327a – Brass (250 grains); issued for 25 cents

*Not listed in the So-Called Dollars reference book, but numismatic researcher Bill Swoger claims most common.

Other Medals and Tokens

There are several issues of So-Called Dollars and Souvenir Gold Tokens that were issued for the Lewis and Clark Exposition. The So-Called Dollars related to the expo, originally identified as “souvenir” dollars HK-328 through HK-334, are detailed below:

  • PCGS #642745, HK-328

One of the So-Called Dollars struck for the Lewis and Clark Exposition. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.

For the most part, these privately made medals were of the same design for HK-328 through HK-333b with the Government Building on the reverse, but HK-334 has a slightly different obverse and the Washington State Building on the reverse.

  • PCGS #642758, HK-334

The souvenir Oregon Gold Tokens were issued in 1/4 (25 cent) and 1/2 (50 cent) denominations portraying Mount Hood on the obverse with the legend “L&C EXPO 1905” over and “Mt. Hood” underneath. The reverse sports a leafed vine with grapes surrounding the 1/4 or 1/2 and “OREGON” over and “GOLD” beneath.

The souvenir Oregon Gold Tokens in 1/4 and 1/2 denominations. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
The souvenir Oregon Gold Tokens in 1/4 and 1/2 denominations. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
  • PCGS #527123, X-Tn1
  • PCGS #532418, X-Tn2

Regional Pride

Visitors to the Lewis and Clark Exposition were treated to exhibits from 21 nations and 16 U.S. states. Curiously, this was really a Western exposition. Of the 16 states represented, only three – Maine, Massachusetts, and New York – were from the East. The U.S. government was well represented, including the Mint exhibit where the official medals were struck.

Some of the largest international exhibits included that of Japan, which cost more than a million dollars and featured amazing cultural artifacts in porcelain and silk. Italy’s pavilion featured lovely marble statuary. Both Germany and France spent enormous sums on their exhibits also.

When considering the distances and the potential modes of transportation available to an individual of that time, one realizes why Portland wanted their own fair. Attracting 16 states and 21 foreign governments to participate is quite impressive. The international participants had more logistical issues and farther to travel.

Not only were the vast majority of the population of Portland, the state of Oregon, and the entire West Coast much too far from Buffalo, New York, for the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, but the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904 was itself a monumental journey in its day for someone traveling from the shores of the Pacific.

Where to Next?

The overwhelming support for a Panama-Pacific Exposition was evident early on, but no metropolitan area or region could or would try to sponsor a major international event until 1915, when the Panama-Pacific Expo was held in San Francisco. While there were historical anniversaries like the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition in 1907, and both the Hudson-Fulton Celebration and the Alaska-Yukon Territory Exposition in 1909 on opposite coasts, none of them rose to world’s fair status.

In this seven-part article series reviewing the coins and medals that the U.S. Mint produced for our major U.S. Expositions from 1876 to 1926, the 50 years spanned in this coverage doesn’t seem long in historical terms. And yet, virtually everything had changed in that 50 years. Not only had the United States itself advanced immensely in terms of both communication and transportation, but indeed the world had become a much smaller place.

Telephone usage, while not widespread in 1905, continued to grow and would become commonplace by 1926. Ocean liner and rail travel were one’s best options for covering long distances in 1876, but by 1905 automobiles were gaining traction.

Air travel was still all but unknown in 1905, but humans had flown in a motorized aircraft by that time. By 1926, people had flown planes on combat missions during the Great War. Airshows had become popular events by the time the nation celebrated its Sesquicentennial Anniversary in 1926.

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1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Coins and Medals Struck by the U.S. Mint

By Vic Bozarth for PCGS ……
In part four of this series, we arrive at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, for which the United States Mint struck two commemorative gold dollar coins and a slew of medals. We’ll also touch on a couple of the myriad of medals, tokens, and other items historically tied to the 1904 World’s Fair

The Significance of the 1904 St. Louis Exposition

In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte of France sold the massive piece of land in North America involved in the Louisiana Purchase to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. Comprising some 827,000 square miles of land, the purchase nearly doubled the geographical size of the U.S. at that point in time. Jefferson was a forward thinker who had long-term goals of acquiring the Louisiana Territory, which secured the Port of New Orleans and access to the entire Mississippi River basin. Jefferson was also enamored with the possibility of an inland water route to the West Coast through the interior of the continental United States.

A Centennial Exposition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase was proposed as early as 1898. Both Kansas City and St. Louis vied for the honor, given their central location in the nation in the territory consumed by the purchase. Strong local backing in St. Louis and early planning were crucial, but $10 million of the $15 million needed to host the expo was in place by 1901!

Ironically, one of the biggest proponents of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was President William McKinley, who actively supported the St. Louis World’s Fair project after organizers visited him at the White House in February 1901. Later that year, on September 6, 1901, McKinley was shot while attending the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition in New York. He died of his injuries eight days later.

With widespread backing and sufficient funding, organizers were able to plan for the fair relatively early compared to other expos. City planner George Kessler created the master design for the fair, which sprawled across a fairground nearly two square miles in size and went on to draw some 20 million visitors. The formal opening of the fair occurred on April 30, 1904, with the 1904 Olympic Summer Games, the 1904 Democratic National Convention, and the 1904 American Numismatic Association (ANA) convention held concurrently with the expo.

St. Louis Exposition Commemorative Coins and Medals

Coins produced for the expo included the 1903 Jefferson Gold Dollar and the 1903 McKinley Gold Dollar, which were sold at the fair in a booth helmed by prominent numismatist Farran Zerbe.

PCGS Trueview of a 1903 Jefferson - Louisiana Purchase Gold Commemorative Dollar Coin.
PCGS TrueView of a 1903 Jefferson – Louisiana Purchase Gold Commemorative Dollar Coin.
PCGS Trueview of a 1904 McKinley - Louisiana Purchase Gold Commemorative Dollar Coin.
PCGS Trueview of a 1904 McKinley – Louisiana Purchase Gold Commemorative Dollar Coin.

In addition to these commemorative gold dollars, the United States Mint also struck an amazing souvenir medal design across seven different metals. Engraver George T. Morgan designed the souvenir medal, most of which were struck on the grounds of the expo. While the obverse rightly portrays both Jefferson and Napoleons’ busts, Morgan’s reverse work is exceptional, depicting the continental U.S. with the Louisiana Purchase superimposed in high relief on the amazingly detailed map.

Also produced were five different award medals, some of which were struck in various metals. Adolph A. Weinman’s designs for all five award medals were exceptional in both aesthetic appeal and subject matter. Weinman’s later work on the Walking Liberty Half Dollar would be evident especially on the exceptional award medals for the Louisiana Purchase Expo.

The official 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair medal. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
The official 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair medal. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.

Most of the medals were struck at and sold in the Government Building at the fair by Treasury Department employee Charles Stouthard Muir. Of the seven different metal issues of the Official Souvenir Medal, HK-299 through HK-304, are all obtainable with rarity ratings between R-3 and R-6, but for the unique gold issue HK-299a which is classified as R-10.

A total of nearly 90,000 of these medals were produced on the fairgrounds and most (copper and bronze) sold for 25 cents each. The exceptions were for the silver, which was originally priced at $1 and later $1.25 (evidently, 6,002 pieces were struck at the mint in 1905 and 1906), with the gilt and gold-plated bronze versions selling for 50 cents apiece.

  • PCGS #642693, HK-299 – Silver (Rarity-4)
  • PCGS #642694, HK-299a – Gold
  • PCGS #642695, HK-300 – Gold-Plated Bronze
  • PCGS #642696, HK-301 – Copper BN
  • PCGS #642697 – Copper RB
  • PCGS #642698 – Copper RD
  • PCGS #642699, HK-302 – Yellow Bronze
  • PCGS #642700, HK-303 – Bronze BN
  • PCGS #642701 – Bronze RB
  • PCGS #642702 – Bronze RD
  • PCGS #642703, HK-304 – Gilt

St. Louis World’s Fair Award Medals

The award medals produced for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition comprise a highly impressive group of medallic art for the period. There were five levels of award medals given, all designed by Weinman and struck at the U.S. Mint.

Produced in several unique shapes, there were Grand Prize, Gold Medal, Silver Medal, Bronze Medal, and Commemorative Award Medals. All five of these award medals were made in “government bronze”, although the “gold” and “silver” medals were issued with a gilt and silvered finishes, respectively.

  • Grand Prize Medal, PCGS #910671 – Five-Point Shield Design, 74 x 60 millimeters; H-30-90 (Mintage: 3,300)
  • Gold Award Medal, (PCGS #910670 Gilt Silver, PCGS #888062 Gilt Copper) – Three-Point Shield Design, H-30-70
1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Gilt Copper Award Medal. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Gilt Copper Award Medal. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
  • Silver Award Medal, Square design, 2.625” x 2.625”; H-30-50 (PCGS #804837, Bronze)
1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Medal H-30-50 Bronze Louisiana Purchase Expo (Special Strike).
1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Medal H-30-50 Bronze Louisiana Purchase Expo (Special Strike).
  • Bronze Award Medal, Round Design, 2.5” diameter; H-30-40
  • Commemorative Award Medal, Three-Point Shield Design, 3” x 3”; H-30-110

Among the many commercial medals and tokens produced at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, a “Souvenir Coin of Admission” was issued by the Louisiana Purchase Souvenir Coin Company and is not related to the exposition company itself. The round and octagonal issues comprise So-Called Dollar numbers HK-305/305a for the round issues and HK-306 and 307 for the octagonal issues.

Both sizes of the medal were struck in brass, and while many are serial numbered on the medals themselves, there are also examples of each size without serial numbers. The round examples are under #25000 and the octagonal examples are all over #25000.

  • PCGS #642705, Round
  • PCGS #642707, Octagonal
Octagonal versions of the Souvenir Coin of Admission. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.
Octagonal versions of the Souvenir Coin of Admission. Courtesy of PCGS TrueView.

These privately struck commercial issues were confused with official Mint issues, and the company itself disappeared. While many of the first 25,000 round St. Louis Expo medals had been sold, another order for 25,000 octagonal examples was placed without the vendor obtaining official recognition either as an official souvenir or concession dealer. Most of these octagonal issues were purchased by souvenir and coin dealers.

Other Collectibles Relating to the 1904 World’s Fair

There were many other interesting items produced that tie into the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. To be sure, anything presidential in nature demands attention, and President Theodore Roosevelt was prominently featured on numerous advertising items from the fair.

Postcards were also immensely popular in terms of both communication and advertising. Today, when many of us take an exciting trip or see something interesting, some of us post a photo of it on social media. In 1904, countless people shared these intriguing experiences via postcards. Postcards both conveyed a message and served as bragging rights, especially when sent from a famous location or event, such as the Louisiana Purchases Exposition.

Meanwhile, Zerbe, who was selling 1903 Jefferson and McKinley Commemorative Gold Dollars at his expo booth, also had other novelty items for sale there. Among them was a wooden postcard picturing the obverse of both Commemorative Gold Dollars. He offered to mount either coin or both in a pendant or stick pin as a marketing feature, though most purchasing these coins passed on the mounting.

Among the many other collectibles hailing from the 1904 World’s Fair are items adorned with the image of President Theodore Roosevelt, a punny wooden postcard, and a variety of exp-emblazoned bages. Courtesy of Vic Bozarth.
Among the many other collectibles hailing from the 1904 World’s Fair are items adorned with the image of President Theodore Roosevelt, a punny wooden postcard, and a variety of exp-emblazoned bages. Courtesy of Vic Bozarth.

The Louisiana Purchase Centennial was commemorated in virtually every medium available at that period in time. And isn’t it human nature to want to bring a souvenir home? Decades later, many people still find Louisiana Purchase Exposition items fascinating and highly collectable. Someone who found them especially exciting was well-known coin dealer and collector Robert L. Hendershott, who authored fair guidebook 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Mementos and Memorabilia (1994). Hendershott’s book lists and has images of hundreds of items from the fair. Why was he so fascinated with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition? He attended as a child in 1904!

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1886 Morgan Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

 

1886 Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.
1886 Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.

Millions of 1886 Morgan Dollars Were Struck and Stored

The Philadelphia Mint, being the main mint of the United States, was responsible for producing coins for the America’s mid-Atlantic, New England, and for the populated region of the midwest. The Mint’s branches in New Orleans, Carson City, and San Francisco produced coins in silver and gold for the South and West. All four of these mints were put to task striking millions of Morgan dollars in accordance with a federal law passed in 1878. Demand for these large silver coins in most regions of the country was modest at best, and the surplus of unwanted silver dollars sat in bags in Treasury vaults for decades.

By 1886, eight years into these silver dollar scheme, this lack of demand was acutely felt by the Mint and production levels at each branch was largely based on which location had the capacity to store the coins. While mintages at the branch mints fluctuated because of this, Philadelphia was offered no reprieve.

Coming into 1886, the Philadelphia had already produced 102,324,800 Morgan dollars. That year, Philadelphia would strike 19,963,000 more coins and still more the following year. It is because of these large mintages and the fact that so many coins were saved in large quantity in uncirculated condition that the Morgan dollar series saw a tremendous surge in collecting popularity in the 1960s and 1970s as silver coins disappeared from circulation.

What is the 1886 Morgan Dollar Worth?

The 1886 Morgan dollar is a coin that most hobbyists classify as common in all but the higher uncirculated grades. But this is only part of the story. Due to the fact that the coin has an actual silver weight of .77344 ounces of pure silver, every authentic 1886 Morgan dollar, regardless of condition is worth considerably more than the $1 face value stamped on the coin’s reverse. With silver prices approaching $25 an ounce, that puts a baseline value of a circulated 1886 Morgan dollar at about $19 in metal. Even this price is too low for the coin, as collectors will typically pay between $30 and $50 for circulated examples.

1886 Morgan Dollar obverse.
An 1886 Morgan Dollar in uncirculated condition.

More often than not, collectors prefer uncirculated examples of common date Morgan dollars and the 1886 Morgan dollar is plentiful in brilliant uncirculated condition. The vallue of these coins depends on the assigned grade, the coin’s eye appeal, and to some extent, the service that encapsulated the coin. The three grading services that drive the certified Morgan dollar market are CAC, NGC, and PCGS.

Through November 2023, NGC counts 164,067 1886 Morgan dollars in its condition census, from that total 1,151 are noted as having Prooflike surfaces and 607 as having Deep Mirror Prooflike surfaces. The vast majority of these coins fall in the MS63 to MS64 grade band. In this grade range, the 1886 Morgan dollar sells for about $100 each.

PCGS counts 144,127 1886 Morgan dollars in its condition census. 1,251 of these are Prooflike, while 1,005 are Deep Mirror Prooflike. As was the case with NGC, PCGS considered most of the dollars submitted in the MS63 and MS64 grade range. At this level PCGS and NGC coins sell for about the same price: $100 each.

CAC has applied a CAC-approved sticker to NGC and PCGS-graded coins for the past sixteen years. In 2023, it launched a full service grading company with a location in Virginia Beach. To date, CAC has approved 3,512 1886 Morgan dollars with 62 approved with Prooflike and 69 Deep Mirror Prooflike. In addition, this year, the service has graded 81 1886 Morgan dollars, with a distribution of coins in the MS63 to MS66 range.

In Gem Uncirculated condition (MS65), the 1886 Morgan dollar sells for prices between $180 and $220. At this grade and higher, collectors pay large premiums for coins with exceptional eye appeal and toning. To date, PCGS reports one example at the grade MS68+ and estimates it’s value to be $20,000. Recent sales of MS68 coins have fallen in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Less for coins graded by NGC. At this price point, the market value of an 1886 Morgan dollar is coin and time dependent.

Design

Obverse:

The obverse of the 1886 Morgan dollar exhibits the characteristic left-facing Liberty Head motif seen on all issues of this classic dollar series. The central Liberty bust wears a Phrygian cap encircled with a ribbon adorned with the inscription LIBERTY. Miss Liberty also wears a crown of wheat and cotton, which were two of the nation’s most lucrative natural agricultural assets in the 19th century.

The phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM is inscribed along the upper half of the obverse rim, and the date 1886 is centered at the bottom of the obverse adjacent to the rim. Seven stars appear between the left side of the date and the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM, while six stars fill the gap between the date and motto on the lower right side of the coin. In total, the 13 stars symbolize the 13 colonies that combined to form the original Union of the United States. At the base of Liberty’s neck is the “M” monogram representing Morgan’s initial.

Morgan designed the Liberty head bust after the likeness of Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia schoolteacher who modeled for the coin. Williams received significant public recognition after her face appeared on the Morgan dollar, but she rejected the attention that was heaped upon her. She refused offers for acting roles and apparently had turned down an offer for marriage following her engagement to an unknown suitor. Before dying at the age of 68 in 1926, Williams, who sat for Morgan on the sworn condition of anonymity, rebuffed her single stint as a coin design model as little more than an “incident of my youth.”

Reverse:

The reverse of the 1886 Morgan dollar is dominated by a heraldic eagle, its wings spread across the upper half of the coin. Between the upper tips of the eagle’s wings appears the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The eagle clutches an olive branch in its right claw representing peace and in its left claw are three arrows symbolizing the nation’s ability to defend itself. The central eagle design is partly encircled by a laurel wreath.

Along the rim of the upper two-thirds of the reverse is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with the tip of the eagle’s left wings, which virtually touch the coin’s rim, interrupting the space between UNITED and STATES; the right wing visually divides the words OF and AMERICA. The words ONE DOLLAR, seen at the bottom center of the reverse, are flanked by a single, six-sided star on either side of the denomination inscription.

Edge:

The edge of the 1886 Morgan dollar is reeded.

Designer

Engraver George T. Morgan was born in Birmingham, England in 1845. He emigrated to the United States and began work as an assistant to Mint Chief Engraver William Barber and continued to produce patterns and commemoratives under the administration of Barber’s son, Charles. Morgan himself became Chief Engraver in 1917. He died in 1925.

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1886
Denomination:  1 Dollar
Mint Mark:  None (Philadelphia)
Mintage:  19,963,000 (Business Strike); 886 (Proof)
Alloy:  90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight:  26.73 grams
Diameter:  38.10 mm
Edge Reeded
OBV Designer  George T. Morgan
REV Designer  George T. Morgan
Quality:  Business Strike, Proof

 


 

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1904-O Morgan Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

1904-O Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.
1904-O Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.

1904 Was Supposed to Mark the End of the Morgan Dollar

In mid-to-late 1904, an article appeared in newspapers across the country with the blaring headline: “Passing of the Good Old American Silver Dollar.” Under the subtitle “It Is Probable That No More of Them Will Ever be Coined by the Government,” the author, Katherine Pope, reported “that ponderous and more or less troubling coin, the silver dollar, has had its day… the supply of silver bullion purchased under the Sherman act [sic] is exhausted… in all probability no more new silver dollars will be turned out by the government’s mint plants.

“Which, for old associations’ sake,” she wrote, “seems regrettable.”

… But for the New Orleans Mint, it Was

The New Orleans Mint’s last Morgan dollars were struck as the United States Mint prepared to shutter the facility. Economic turbulence in the 1890s spelled doom for these cartwheels prized by free silver advocates and the demise of the dollar prompted staff cutbacks at the southern branch mint.

The New Orleans Mint was a major part of the Morgan dollar’s life. Reactivated by the federal government in 1879 after its loss almost 20 years earlier during the Civil War, the facility struck Morgan dollars every year until the denomination’s end. Of all the Morgan dollars created by the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, those struck at New Orleans are known for a generally “weak” strike and saw perhaps the most actual circulation in commerce.

Ultimately, the New Orleans Mint struck 3,720,000 Morgan dollars in 1904.

The facility outlived the Morgan dollar by five years, its coining operations being suspended in 1909.

What Happened to Millions of Morgan Dollars?

Millions more Morgan dollars were struck than were needed for circulation, and the coins sat unused in bank vaults and Treasury facilities for years until 1918, when Congress passed the Pittman Act. Named for Senator Key Pittman of Nevada, the Act authorized the melting of up to 350,000,000 silver dollars and the sale of the resulting silver to Britain, whose monetary regime in India was stressed after a run on silver. The Pittman Act also called for the melted dollars to be recoined, precipitating the reintroduction of the Morgan dollar and the introduction of the Peace dollar in 1921.

270,232,722 Morgan dollars were melted under the terms of the Pittman Act. This was done without regard for date, making rarities of some previously common issues. For decades, collectors regarded the 1904-O Morgan dollar as this kind of rarity, as few Mint State 1904-O Morgan dollars entered the market, and prices reflected this belief. For instance, an ad published in The Numismatist in August 1951 by B.M. Douglas, a Washington, D.C.-based coin dealer, offered “Brilliant unc” 1904-O Morgan dollars (under the heading “RARE MORGAN DOLLARS”) for $50 USD.

This view held sway until the early 1960s.

Initially stored in the New Orleans Mint’s vault, the surviving coins were moved to Philadelphia in 1929. In October of 1962, large numbers of Mint State Morgan dollars were released – including many examples of the once-scarce 1904-O. The glut of supply drove prices down. In April 1963, a Philadelphia-based dealer offered 1904-O Morgan dollars in “BU” for just $2.00 in The Numismatist.

What are 1904-O Morgan Dollars Worth Now?

Today, examples grading MS-65 routinely sell at auction for between $100 and $200.

Large numbers of 1904-O Morgan dollars survive in grades up to MS-66 and the date becomes conditionally scarce in MS-67. It is one of the most abundant issues in Mint State. According to Q. David Bowers’ Silver Dollars and Trade Dollars of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia, more Mint State 1904-O Morgan dollars exist that any other date from the New Orleans Mint after 1885.

PCGS CoinFacts gives an estimate of 372,000 surviving examples, 100,000 of which grade MS-60 or better, with 40,000 grading better than MS-65. PCGS has certified more than 133,000 1904-O Morgan dollars; NGC has certified more than 151,000.

CAC has applied its sticker of approval on 353 coins and has certified nine examples since the company began accepting regular submissions in the summer of 2023.

As for collectible varieties, VAMWorld, a website dedicated to VAM varieties, lists 66 individual VAM varieties for the 1904-O Morgan dollar. A book dedicated to the VAM varieties of 1904-O Morgan dollars was written by Alan Scott and published in 2010; a new edition was released in 2014.

Randy Campbell, Senior Grader and Numismatist at Independent Coin Graders (ICG) and an expert on Prooflike (PL) Morgan dollars, stated in a phone interview that 1904-O Morgans with Deep Mirrored Prooflike (DMPL) obverses and reverses are rare; many coins exhibit DMPL or PL qualities on one side, but rarely both.

CoinFacts claims 9,900 surviving dollar coins are PL, all of which are MS-60 or better; 1,880 are MS-65 or better. DMPL 1904-O Morgan dollars number 1,761 in grades MS-60 and better. Three hundred and ninety-six examples grade MS-65 and better. VAMWorld explains that “Prooflike coins are quite available in terms of absolute population, but they comprise just under 3% of the uncirculated population at PCGS and NGC. Contrast on these tends to be poor.”

In his Getting Started column published in the December 2018 issue of The Numismatist, Mitch Sanders discussed “micro” and “macro” numismatics. Micro numismatics, Sanders wrote, involves “a highly detail-oriented examination of differences among coins with the same date and mint mark, usually focused on die varieties.”

Macronumismatics “emphasizes depth over breadth” and is interested in “coins as representations of the larger economic, political, technological and artistic contexts in which they were produced and used.” 1904-O Morgan dollars have something to offer to both camps.

Collectors can hunt well-struck examples, VAM varieties, and PL and DMPL coins, making the date a worthy endeavor for those who want to delve into the series’ technical minutiae with one of its penultimate dates – and the last date struck at the New Orleans Mint. The 1904-O Morgan dollar marked the beginning of the denomination’s hiatus and the beginning of the end for the New Orleans Mint.

1904-O Morgan Dollar Price Records

The following record prices are still current as of the time of publication:

  • Regular Strike auction record: $39,950 USD – Legend Rare Coin Auctions – 7/13/2017
  • PL auction record: $19,200 – Heritage – 9/7/2017 MS67PL
  • DMPL auction record: $12,338 – Legend – 7/26/2018 MS66+DMPL

Design

Obverse:

The obverse of the 1904-O Morgan dollar exhibits the characteristic left-facing Liberty Head motif seen on all issues of this classic dollar series. Lady Liberty bust wears a Phrygian cap encircled with a ribbon adorned with the inscription LIBERTY. Miss Liberty also wears a “vegetal” crown of wheat and cotton, which were two of the nation’s most lucrative natural agricultural assets in the 19th century.

The phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM is inscribed along the upper half of the obverse rim, and the date 1904 is centered at the bottom of the obverse adjacent to the rim. Seven stars appear between the left side of the date and the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM, while six stars fill the gap between the date and motto on the lower right side of the coin. In total, the 13 stars represent the 13 colonies that combined to form the original Union of the United States. At the base of Liberty’s neck is the “M” monogram representing Morgan’s initial.

Morgan designed the Liberty head bust after the likeness of Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia schoolteacher who modeled for the coin. Williams received significant public recognition after her face appeared on the Morgan dollar, but she rejected the attention that was heaped upon her. She refused offers for acting roles and apparently had turned down an offer for marriage following her engagement to an unknown suitor. Before dying at the age of 68 in 1926, Williams, who sat for Morgan on the sworn condition of anonymity, rebuffed her single stint as a coin design model as little more than an “incident of [her] youth.”

United States 1904-O Morgan Silver DollarReverse:

The reverse of the 1904-O Morgan dollar is dominated by a heraldic eagle, its wings spread across the upper half of the coin. Between the upper tips of the eagle’s wings appears the national motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The eagle clutches an olive branch in its right claw representing peace and in its left claw are three arrows symbolizing the nation’s ability to defend itself. The central eagle design is partly encircled by a laurel wreath.

Along the rim of the upper two-thirds of the reverse is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with the tip of the eagle’s left wing (which virtually touches the coin’s rim) penetrating the space between UNITED and STATES; the right wing visually divides the words OF and AMERICA. The words ONE DOLLAR, seen at the bottom center of the reverse, are flanked by a single, six-sided star on either side of the denomination inscription.

The mint mark “O” for New Orleans is located below the wreath and above the word DOLLAR.

Edge:

The edge of the 1904-O Morgan dollar is reeded.

Designer

Engraver George T. Morgan was born in Birmingham, England in 1845. He emigrated to the United States and began work as an assistant to Mint Chief Engraver William Barber and continued to produce patterns and commemoratives under the administration of Barber’s son, Charles. Morgan himself became Chief Engraver in 1917. George Morgan died in 1925.

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1904
Denomination:  One Dollar (USD)
Mint Mark:  O (New Orleans)
Mintage:  3,720,000
Alloy:  90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight:  26.73 grams
Diameter:  38.10 mm
OBV Designer  George T. Morgan
REV Designer  George T. Morgan
Quality:  Business Strike

 


 

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1893ccredfield

1893-CC Morgan Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

 

1893-CC Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek / Stack's Bowers.
1893-CC Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek / Stack’s Bowers.

How Did the Morgan Dollar Get its Name?

The Morgan dollar gets its name from United States Mint engraver George T. Morgan, who designed the dollar coin in competition with then-Chief Engraver William Barber. The two had a generally cordial relationship, though numismatists throughout the generations have supposed that Barber may have been envious of Morgan’s talent as an engraver and treated him with some degree of unprofessionalism. This is not true.

Morgan was born in England and began working for the Mint soon after his arrival in the United States in 1876. Morgan was brought on as an assistant engraver in October 1876 and then worked under William Barber. In addition to the Liberty Head dollar, Morgan has several coin design credits to his name, including the Columbian half dollar of 1892 and 1893, and an array of pattern coins designed during the late 19th century, most notable of these being the never-released $100 Gold Union coin.

The 1893-CC Morgan Dollar Was Struck In the Final Years of the Carson City Mint

The 1893-CC Morgan dollar is the last silver coin that was struck at the Carson City branch of the United States Mint. The Mint, running out of bullion deposits from the great Comstock Lode, struck 677,000 Morgan dollars in its final year of coining operations, along with 60,000 half eagles, 14,000 eagles, and 18,402 double eagles.

The United States Mint would officially decommission the Carson City branch in 1899, leaving it open as a U.S. Assay Office until 1933. During its tenure as a coin striking facility, Carson City produced some of the most storied coins in American numismatic history. Coins struck at the Carson City Mint carry with them the allure of the Old West, of stagecoaches, cowboys, gamblers, and gunslingers. It was with this evocative imagery that the Government Services Administration (GSA) sought to market the government’s stash of Carson City dollars in the 1970s and ’80s. In that pool of coins, just one 1893-CC was found.

As far as the striking of Silver Dollars is concerned, the Carson City Mint produced coins in three distinct spurts: 1870-1873 (Seated Liberty Type), 1878-1875 (Morgan Type), and 1889-1893 (Morgan Type). As far as the Morgan dollar type is concerned, the 1893-CC is the third scarcest of the Carson City issues.

Most 1893-CC Morgan dollars wound up in the Treasury vaults with the majority of those being melted down in 1918. The sealed bags of 1893-CC dollar coins that survived the melt were paid out at the San Francisco Mint and the Washington, D.C. Cash Room.

1893-CC Morgan Dollars in the Redfield Hoard

1893-CC Ad (1978), Paramount International Coin Corporation
A two-page Paramount International Coin Corporation ad offering a limited quantity of 1893-CC Morgan dollars from the Redfield Hoard. Outdated address and contact information have been obscured.

What is likely the final dispersal of 1893-CC Morgan dollars in quantity came in 1978, When Paramount International Coin Corporation counted a small number of uncirculated examples among the 400,000 coins of the massive Redfield hoard. Accumulated in secret over the course of three decades, the hoard contained mostly uncirculated silver dollars in $1,000 mint bags. The hoard contained a number of common dates, but also counted among its number several better date Morgans, including the 1889-CC, the 1895-S, and, of course, the 1893-CC.

Unfortunately, Paramount’s handling of the Redfield Hoard left much to be desired. Many of the 1893-CC dollars were mutilated after being put through a counting machine. As a result, many coins display curvilinear scratches on the cheek and the eagle’s breast. In all likelihood, this is the quality of coin you would likely receive by purchasing an “MS60” quality coin from the April 1978 Paramount ad published in The Numismatist. Paramount also offered “MS65” coins for $1,150 (approximately $4,800 adjusted for inflation).

Assuming the quality of that coin exceeded PCGS or NGC’s standards for MS63, a buyer would have made a handsome profit off of that purchase. Recent public sales of MS63 1893-CC Morgan dollars have yielded prices in the $5,750 to $6,000 range. In MS64, the price jumps to $9,000. In MS65, the price jumps by many multiples. The record price paid for an 1893-CC is $161,000 paid for a PCGS MS66 at a Legend Morphy auction in 2013. That coin, from the Jack Lee Collection, is the PCGS plate coin for the issue.

What are 1893-CC Morgan Dollars Worth Today?

While the Carson Mint struck 677,000 1893-CC Morgan dollars, only a fraction of that mintage survive. CoinWeek estimates no more than 35,000 to 40,000 coins of this issue likely survive. NGC and PCGS combine to have graded 15,410 coins. CAC, a new grading service, reports only 17 coins in their holder as November 11, 2023. These coins were likely, once in PCGS or NGC holders. Given that it is profitable to certify even circulated 1893-CC Morgan dollars, the likelihood that there are significant numbers of coins that have yet to cycle through the grading services is low.

The value of an 1893-CC Morgan dollar depends on condition and eye appeal.

Condition relates to the amount of a wear that is imparted on a coin through circulation or mishandling. Eye appeal is a visual quality that imparts excitement on an enthusiast. When all coins are struck, they are considered to be uncirculated or in Mint State. But not all uncirculated or Mint State coins are imbued with eye appeal.

At the low end, in the most heavily circulated grades, and 1893-CC Morgan dollar is worth between $300 and $500. A circulated coin in Extra Fine condition will retain most of its design elements. At this level, 1893-CC Morgan dollars will typically sell for prices between $2,000 and $3,000. This jump in price is caused by the increased scarcity of the coin as grades approach uncirculated condition.

Coins that have never circulated will exhibit a range of features that fall in the eye appeal category. Here, the number of visible marks, the strength of the strike, the prominence of the coin’s luster, and sometimes even the color of the coin will dramatically influence the coin’s value. Uncirculated coins trade for prices approaching $10,000 for a lower-end uncirculated coin up to $200,000 or more for extraordinary examples with high eye appeal. Most uncirculated 1893-CC Morgan dollars trade between reputable coin dealers or at major auctions.

Collectors are advised to avoid purchasing any 1893-CC Morgan dollar unless it is first authenticated and certified by CAC, NGC, or PCGS. Also, purchase coins from knowledgable dealers who are authorized dealers of these three services.

Obverse:

The obverse of the 1893-CC Morgan dollar exhibits the characteristic left-facing Liberty Head motif seen on all issues of this classic dollar series. The central Liberty bust wears a Phrygian cap encircled with a ribbon adorned with the inscription LIBERTY. Miss Liberty also wears a crown of wheat and cotton, which were two of the nation’s most lucrative natural agricultural assets in the 19th century.

The phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM is inscribed along the upper half of the obverse rim, and the date 1893 is centered at the bottom of the obverse adjacent to the rim. Seven stars appear between the left side of the date and the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM, while six stars fill the gap between the date and motto on the lower right side of the coin. In total, the 13 stars represent the 13 colonies that combined to form the original Union of the United States. At the base of Liberty’s neck is the “M” monogram representing Morgan’s initial.

Morgan designed the Liberty head bust after the likeness of Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia schoolteacher who modeled for the coin. Williams received significant public recognition after her face appeared on the Morgan dollar, but she rejected the attention that was heaped upon her. She refused offers for acting roles and apparently had turned down an offer for marriage following her engagement to an unknown suitor. Before dying at the age of 68 in 1926, Williams, who sat for Morgan on the sworn condition of anonymity, rebuffed her single stint as a coin design model as little more than an “incident of my youth”.

Reverse:

The reverse of the 1893-CC Morgan dollar is dominated by a heraldic eagle, its wings spread across the upper half of the coin. Between the upper tips of the eagle’s wings appears the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The eagle clutches an olive branch in its right claw representing peace and in its left claw are three arrows symbolizing the nation’s ability to defend itself. The central eagle design is partly encircled by a laurel wreath.

Along the rim of the upper two-thirds of the reverse is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with the tip of the eagle’s left wings, which virtually touch the coin’s rim, penetrating the space between UNITED and STATES; the right wing visually divides the words OF and AMERICA. The words ONE DOLLAR, seen at the bottom center of the reverse, are flanked by a single, six-sided star on either side of the denomination inscription. The “CC” mintmark, denoting that the coin was struck at the Carson City Mint, is located above the DO of DOLLAR.

Edge:

The edge of the 1893-CC Morgan dollar is reeded.

Designer(s):

Engraver George T. Morgan was born in Birmingham, England in 1845. He emigrated to the United States and began work as an assistant to Mint Chief Engraver William Barber and continued to produce patterns and commemoratives under the administration of Barber’s son, Charles. Morgan himself became Chief Engraver in 1917. He died in 1925.

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1893
Denomination:  1 Dollar
Mint Mark:  CC (Carson City)
Mintage:  667,000
Alloy:  90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight:  26.73 grams
Diameter:  38.10 mm
Edge Reeded
OBV Designer  George T. Morgan
REV Designer  George T. Morgan
Quality:  Business Strike

 

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United States 1904-O Morgan Silver Dollar | CoinWeek

Description In mid-to-late 1904, an article appeared in newspapers across the country with the blaring headline: “Passing of the Good Old American Silver Dollar.” Under the subtitle “It Is Probable That No More of Them Will Ever be Coined by the Government,” the author, Katherine Pope, reported “that ponderous and more or less troubling coin, […]

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Why Collect Commemoratives? A Better Question Might Be “Why Not?”

Collecting Commemoratives By Ron Drzewucki If you collect modern U. S. coins, then you collect commemoratives. Today, practically every coin the United States Mint produces commemorates someone or something. There’s a president on the obverse of every denomination, including Presidential $1 coins. The reverse of the quarter has been especially busy over the last 15 […]

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The 1920 Wilson Dollar: A Counterfeited Rarity

An elusive Wilson Dollar medal represents a challenge for collectors of higher grades The Wilson Dollar By Numismatic Guaranty Corporation …… The Wilson dollar was struck to commemorate the opening of the Manila Mint on July 6, 1920, which was the first and only US mint established outside the continental United States. The obverse is […]

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Uncirculated 2023 Morgan, Peace Silver Dollars on Sale July 13

The United States Mint announces that the 2023 Morgan and Peace Uncirculated Silver Dollars will go on sale on July 13 at noon EDT. Production is limited to 275,000 coins each, and orders are limited to 25 coins per household for the first 24-hour sales period. The 2023 Morgan and Peace Uncirculated Silver Dollars, both […]

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Big Things Happened at the United States Mint in the Month of June

By CoinWeek …..   Spring ends and summer begins in June. At the United States Mint, June has marked both beginnings and endings. Key personnel arrive and leave, key facilities open and close, and key coin programs come into being, while others begin the process of transitioning out. For your reading pleasure, we present this day-by-day […]

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Abraham Lincoln Presidential Silver Medal Available May 1

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Silver Medal will be available for purchase directly from the United States Mint on May 1 at noon EDT. Lincoln was the nation’s 16th President, serving from March 4, 1861, to April 15, 1865. The Department of the Treasury has a long-standing tradition of honoring each President of the United States […]

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United States 1904-O Morgan Silver Dollar

In mid-to-late 1904, an article appeared in newspapers across the country with the blaring headline: “Passing of the Good Old American Silver Dollar.” Under the subtitle “It Is Probable That No More of Them Will Ever be Coined by the Government,” the author, Katherine Pope, reported “that ponderous and more or less troubling coin, the […]

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An Overview of Panama-Pacific Exposition Coins – Part Three

By Victor Bozarth for PCGS …… Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 * * * No World’s Fair before or since 1915 has garnered as much attention in terms of commemorative coins as the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Commemorating the completion of the Panama Canal was a big deal, warranting the 1915 […]

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Roger Burdette: First 1878-S Morgan Silver Dollars Struck

By Roger W. Burdette, special to CoinWeek ….. The first standard silver dollars designed by George T. Morgan were struck at the San Francisco Mint on April 17, 1878. A box containing 10 pairs of dollar dies was shipped on April 8 and arrived at the Mint on the evening of April 16. The dies […]

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Roger Burdette: First 1878-S Morgan Silver Dollars Struck

By Roger W. Burdette, special to CoinWeek …..   The first standard silver dollars designed by George T. Morgan were struck at the San Francisco Mint on April 17, 1878. A box containing 10 pairs of dollar dies was shipped on April 8 and arrived at the Mint on the evening of April 16. The […]

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United States 1883-S Morgan Dollar

With a mintage of 6,250,000 coins, the 1883-S Morgan dollar should be a relatively common coin. However, unlike other contemporary dates, this type is today considered scarce. In fact, when considering examples in Mint State grades, this coin becomes quite rare. This is because the 1883-S was not included in any significant way during the […]

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United States 1889-CC Morgan Dollar

Run mainly by United States Mint officials from the Republican Party, the Carson City Mint was shuttered by President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, in September 1885. It wasn’t until after the next presidential election when Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, was elected in 1889 that the branch mint once again received funding. However, due to this […]

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United States 1889-CC Morgan Dollar

Run mainly by United States Mint officials from the Republican Party, the Carson City Mint was shuttered by President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, in September 1885. It wasn’t until after the next presidential election when Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, was elected in 1889 that the branch mint once again received funding. However, due to this […]

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Top 5 Commemorative Presidential Coins

By Bullion Shark LLC …… Former presidents have played a major role in our circulating coinage for over one hundred years, appearing on the obverses of most of those coins. This even includes series like the Presidential dollar, which started out as circulating coinage in 2007 but became collector coins in 2012. Because of this […]

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United States 1884-S Morgan Dollar

By 1884, the San Francisco Mint was clearly run low on space to store millions of unneeded silver cartwheels. As a result, the 1884-S Morgan dollar is its smallest issuance until that date. The San Francisco Mint struck 3.2 million Morgan dollars in 1884 – a 51% decrease from the prior year. Nevertheless, in regard […]

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GreatCollections Offers Rare Chance for High Gem Prooflike 1882-S Morgan Dollar

Biding is live on Greatcollections.com for a stunning proof-like 1882-S Morgan dollar. Graded as MS 67+ by PCGS and having earned a Green CAC sticker, this coin would make a fine addition to any group of Morgan dollars. Collectors should be aware of the opportunity to bid on this top pop coin, especially since it […]

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The $4 Stella Gold Coin: A Failed Idea That Collectors Loved

By Bullion Shark LLC …… In 1879 and 1880, the United States Mint struck two design types of $4 gold coin patterns that are known as Stellas. To understand why these coins were originally proposed and why they were never minted for circulation, one must understand what was going on in the United States and […]

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United States 1921 Morgan Dollar

Suspended in 1904 due to a significant drop in the demand for silver resulting from the passage of the 1890 Sherman Silver Act, no further Morgan dollars would be struck until 1921. The series was thought to be dead. Yet because of World War I, the government of Great Britain was facing an economic crisis. […]

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Coin Commemorating Last Morgan, First Peace Dollar Available in Pearl Black Finish

Limited to only 1,921 coins worldwide! The Pobjoy Mint is thrilled to announce a new coin to mark the centenary of the transition of the Morgan Dollar to the Peace Dollar to “commemorate this significant evolution of American Freedom”. The design on this brand-new 1oz Proof Fine Silver coin has been produced with a pearl […]

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Commemorative Stories: The 1893 Isabella Quarter

By David Provost for CoinWeek …..   Author’s Note: My intention for this series of “stories” is to present lesser-known information about the US commemorative coins series derived from my original research in the records of Congress and/or the reports and correspondence of the individual coin sponsors. The information presented will not simply be a […]

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Coin Celebrating Morgan and Peace Dollar Centennial Now Available in Pearl Black Finish

The Pobjoy Mint is thrilled to announce a new coin to mark the centenary of the transition of the Morgan dollar to the Peace dollar to “commemorate this significant evolution of American Freedom”. The design on this brand-new 2oz Proof Fine Silver coin has been produced with a pearl black finish in the center with […]

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New Silver Coin Commemorates 100 Years of Last Morgan, First Peace Dollars

Produced in stunning 1oz Silver Piedfort Ultra High Relief (2oz Total) Limited to ONLY 650 coins worldwide! 250 pieces produced with unique reverse frosted background already sold out The Pobjoy Mint is thrilled to announce a new 2021 coin to mark the centenary of the transition of the Morgan Dollar to the Peace Dollar to […]

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GoldClad 1oz Silver Proof Morgan-Peace Dollar Coin Now Available From Pobjoy Mint

Limited to only 1,921 coins worldwide!   The Pobjoy Mint is thrilled to announce a new 2021 coin to mark the centenary of the transition of the Morgan dollar to the Peace dollar to “commemorate this significant evolution of American Freedom”. The Morgan dollar was minted from 1878 to 1904 and then again in 1921. […]

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United States 1881-S Morgan $1 Silver Coin

Description: The 1881-S Morgan dollar is a large silver coin that was struck at the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint. Known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, the Morgan dollar is named for designer George T. Morgan, who served as a United States Mint engraver from 1876 until his death in […]

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United States 1881-S Morgan Dollar

The 1881-S Morgan dollar is a large silver coin that was struck at the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint. Known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, the Morgan dollar is named for designer George T. Morgan, who served as a U.S. Mint engraver from 1876 until his death in 1925. He […]

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United States 1886 Morgan $1 Silver Coin

Description: The 1886 Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Nearly 20 million 1886 Morgan dollars were made, and while the vast majority were ultimately melted, enough survive today to satisfy general collector demands. The Morgan dollar, as […]

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New 5oz Silver Coin Commemorates 100th Anniversary of Last Morgan, First Peace Dollars

Limited to ONLY 329 Coins Worldwide! The Pobjoy Mint is thrilled to announce a new 2021 coin to mark the Centenary of the transition of the Morgan Dollar to Peace Dollar to “commemorate this significant evolution of American Freedom”. The Morgan Dollar was minted from 1878 to 1904 and then again in 1921. The coin […]

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The Eagles of the Classic Commemoratives

By Dan Duncan – Pinnacle Rarities …… The 59 distinct designs of the silver and gold classic commemoratives are often collected by theme. The bald eagle depictions are some of the most interesting and popular of these sets. From Robert Scot’s early Mint small eagle to the majestic in-flight version that graces the newest Silver […]

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The History of the Peace Dollar Is Still Evolving

By Bullion Shark LLC ……   On August 10 the United States Mint offered the 200,000 2021 Peace dollars being issued to mark the centennial of the release of the 1921 Peace dollar at noon Eastern Time and sold out in about 30 minutes. The new coins bear the same design as the original coin […]

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US Coins – A Concise Overview of the Standing Liberty Quarter Series

By Kathleen Duncan – Pinnacle Rarities ……   Historical Background The entire run of American coinage received a major overhaul and aesthetic upgrade between 1907 and 1921. Each and every denomination was redesigned, and with the exception of the two-and-a-half and five-dollar gold coins, each had its own unique appearance. These designs were a clear departure from […]

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1878 Morgan $10 Pattern Struck in Gold Offered in Heritage ANA Signature Auction

George T. Morgan’s 1878 $10 pattern in gold, Judd-1581, is one of the rarest issues in the U.S. pattern series. Only two examples of Judd-1581 were struck in 1878 and one of those coins has been sequestered in the collection of the Connecticut State Library for more than a century. Heritage Auctions is privileged to […]

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Morgan Dollars for Beginners: Proof vs. Prooflike

By CoinWeek ….   There are many aspects of coin collecting that can seem daunting to the uninitiated, but as often as not this is one of its charms to the brave and curious few who make it their hobby. And as intimidating as it might appear at first, it’s only a matter of time […]

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US Mint Opens Pre-Order Windows for Remaining 2021 Morgan, Peace Dollars August 3 and 10

The United States Mint is reminding collectors about the following two pre-order windows in August for the four remaining 2021 Morgan and Peace Dollar products. The Morgan Dollars struck at San Francisco and Denver will be on sale during the first pre-order window beginning at noon (ET) August 3 and extending until August 17 at […]

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Fifth 1922 Modified High Relief Peace Dollar Pattern Discovered and Certified by NGC

New research shines a light on a Peace Dollar experiment that produced coins likely still waiting to be found   When David Lange, Research Director at Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), identified the first 1922 Modified High Relief Peace Dollar in 2001, very little was known about these coins. Even though they look dramatically different from […]

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Gold and Cu-Ni Coins Commemorating 100th Anniversary of Last Morgan, First Peace Dollars Now Available

The 1 oz silver bullion coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the last Morgan and first Peace dollars has already sold out, but The Pobjoy Mint is thrilled to announce that the design to commemorate the centenary of the transition of the Morgan dollar to the Peace dollar is now available in Uncirculated cupro-nickel and […]

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Silver Bullion Coin Commemorates 100th Anniversary of Last Morgan, First Peace Dollars

Limited to ONLY 5,000 fine 999. silver bullion 1 oz coins worldwide Unique Reverse Frosted background The Pobjoy Mint is thrilled to announce a new 2021 coin to mark the Centenary of the transition of the Morgan Dollar to Peace Dollar to “commemorate this significant evolution of American Freedom”. The Morgan Dollar was minted from […]

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United States 1904-O Morgan Silver Dollar

Description In mid-to-late 1904, an article appeared in newspapers across the country with the blaring headline: “Passing of the Good Old American Silver Dollar.” Under the subtitle “It Is Probable That No More of Them Will Ever be Coined by the Government,” the author, Katherine Pope, reported “that ponderous and more or less troubling coin, […]

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Jeff Garrett: Collecting 1921 Morgan and Peace Dollars

There’s more to these historic coins than you might think   By Jeff Garrett for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… This year marks the 100th anniversary of the last Morgan Silver Dollar and the first Peace Silver Dollar. The 1921 Morgan and Peace Dollars are also front and center this year as the United States […]

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1921 – A Year of Numismatic Change

Numismatic Change in 1921 By Mike Garofalo for PCGS …… The year was 1921. America, much like today, was a dynamic and changing place. President Woodrow Wilson, who kept us out of “The War to End All Wars” from 1914 to 1916, had finally led us into and then through that Great War in 1917 […]

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United States 1887 Morgan Silver Dollar

Description Morgan dollar production continued at its Congressionally mandated pace in 1887, despite the fact that even 10 years into the series’ run it had failed to gain a meaningful place as a circulating coin for most Americans. The 1887 Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin struck […]

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United States 1893-CC Morgan Dollar

Description The Morgan dollar gets its name from United States Mint engraver George T. Morgan, who designed the dollar coin in competition with then-Chief Engraver William Barber. The two had a generally cordial relationship, though numismatists throughout the generations have supposed that Barber may have been envious of Morgan’s talent as an engraver and treated […]

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Pattern US Coins: The 1879 Schoolgirl Dollar

One of the many fascinating patterns to be found in the current Heritage Auction of Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part II is an 1879 silver dollar featuring a portrait of Liberty known as the Schoolgirl design. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautifully designed of all patterns as well as […]

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Pattern US Coins: The 1879 Schoolgirl Dollar

One of the many fascinating patterns to be found in the current Heritage Auction of Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part II is an 1879 silver dollar featuring a portrait of Liberty known as the Schoolgirl design. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautifully designed of all patterns as well as […]

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Pattern US Coins: The 1879 Schoolgirl Dollar

One of the many fascinating patterns to be found in the current Heritage Auction of Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part II is an 1879 silver dollar featuring a portrait of Liberty known as the Schoolgirl design. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautifully designed of all patterns as well as […]

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The Roosevelt Dime – A Fitting Tribute, But Not Without Controversy

By David Thomason Alexander for CoinWeek ….. Most circulating United States coins have received both scrutiny and some negative press when first issued. The first 1793 cents were denounced for their Chain reverse, adapted from the earlier Fugio cents but held to be a poorly chosen symbol for its Liberty head obverse. John Reich’s buxom […]

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Wilson Dollar Medal Restrikes Celebrate Manila Mint 100 Year Anniversary

By Jeff Shevlin – So-CalledDollar.com …… This year, to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Manila Mint, restrikes of the Wilson Dollar are being offered for sale. The restrikes have been struck using the original Wilson Dollar obverse die engraved by George Morgan. The Wilson Dollar was originally struck on the newly installed minting equipment […]

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Eagerly Sought Pattern Morgan Half Dollar: Stack’s Bowers Direct

By Stack’s Bowers ……   Judd-1602 1879 Pattern Morgan Half Dollar Just One Finer 1879 Pattern Morgan Half Dollar. Judd-1602, Pollock-1797. Rarity-6. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-66+ RB (PCGS).   The Judd-1602 half dollar is one of the most popular patterns due to the use of George T. Morgan’s portrait of Liberty, previously believed to have […]

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Abraham Lincoln: A Numismatic Legacy Considered

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for PCGS …… [Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in the PCGS E-Zine newsletter on November 6, 2012 and has been updated to its current form. —CoinWeek] Prelude to War On January 12, 1848, a 39-year-old Whig congressman from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln took to the House floor and […]

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CAC-Approved PF-65+ Flowing Hair $4 Stella Gold Coin Offered at GreatCollections

Flowing Hair Stella By CoinWeek …. On Sunday, April 26, bidding ends at GreatCollections.com for this 1879 $4 Gold Flowing Hair Stella, graded Proof-65+ Ultra Cameo by NGC and approved by CAC. NGC has graded 240 total examples of the 1879 Flowing Hair Stella (out of 425 originally minted), regardless of grade or designation. This […]

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CoinWeek IQ: United States 1921-S Morgan Dollar Zerbe Proof

Description The Zerbe Proof 1921-S Morgan dollar is one of the rarest and most enigmatic issues of the Morgan dollar series. The Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at each branch of the United States Mint in operation between 1878 and 1904 and then once […]

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Jeff Garrett: The Superstar $4 Stella, 1879-1880

These numismatic supernovas shine bright in the greatest collections   By Jeff Garrett for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… Very few United States coins inspire the awe and fascination of the 1879 and 1880 $4 gold coins, otherwise known as “Stellas”. These enigmatic coins are far beyond the financial reach of most collectors. But that […]

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Superb Gem 1921 Chapman Proof Morgan Dollar Featured in Stack’s Bowers March 2020 Baltimore Auction

  By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… Rare Chapman Proof 1921 Morgan Dollar The Chapman Proof 1921 Morgan dollar is among the most elusive issues of the entire series, far exceeding in rarity the legendary Proof-only 1895. We are thrilled to offer one of very finest survivors from this clandestine issue in […]

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The 1920 Wilson Dollar: A Counterfeited Rarity

An elusive medal represents a challenge for collectors of higher grades   By Numismatic Guaranty Corporation …… The Wilson dollar was struck to commemorate the opening of the Manila Mint on July 6, 1920, which was the first and only US mint established outside the continental United States. The obverse is a well-executed bust of […]

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PCGS MS67+ 1915-S Panama-Pacific Commemorative Half Dollar at GreatCollections.com

By CoinWeek …. In a few days, bidding ends on Sunday, December 8 on GreatCollections.com for this 1915-S Panama-Pacific Exposition Commemorative half dollar, graded MS-67+ by PCGS and approved by CAC. PCGS reports 25 examples of the Pan-Pac half dollar at MS-67+, with only four higher in MS-68. To date, the highest auction price for […]

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Maine Centennial Half Dollar Turns 100 in 2020

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS ….. The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the Maine Centennial Commemorative half dollar, a coin that was issued in 1920 to honor the 100th anniversary of Maine’s admission to the Union in 1820. As a pre-1930 issue, the Maine Centennial is among the earlier group of Classic United […]

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Medallic Portraits of Abraham Lincoln – Beyond Brenner

Abraham Lincoln By Eric Brothers for CoinWeek ….. When one thinks of the image of Abraham Lincoln upon a coin, Victor David Brenner’s cent is the first thing that comes to mind. And, for the vast majority of people, it’s the only thing that comes to mind. At the time of its debut the Lincoln […]

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The Coin Analyst: Girl on the Silver Dollar and the Merging of Greco-Roman and American Visions of Liberty

By Louis Golino for CoinWeek ….. Girl on the Silver Dollar by Roger W. Burdette (Seneca Mill Press, 2019) * * * Ask most collectors of the Morgan silver dollar issued from 1878 to 1921 who the model was for the image of Liberty that appears on the coin’s obverse, and they will likely say […]

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United States 1887-S Morgan Dollar

Description The 1887-S Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint. The San Francisco Mint struck 1,771,000 Morgan dollars in 1887 and a majority of all of the U.S. gold coins struck during the year. Production […]

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A Coin Analyst Exclusive: An Insider’s Perspective on the Morgan & Peace 1921 Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin Act

By Louis Golino for CoinWeek ….. On July 16, 2019, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO5) and Andy Barr (R-KY6) introduced H.R. 3757, the 2021 Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin Act, which calls for the issuance of 2021-dated Morgan and Peace dollars to mark the centennial of the transition from Morgan to Peace dollars in 1921. […]

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Extremely Rare 1920 Wilson Dollar in Gold to be Offered at July 21 Austin Auction Sale

Extremely rare 1920 Wilson dollar in gold to be offered at July 21 Austin Auction Sale On July 21, Austin Auction Gallery will offer one of the finest-known examples of one of the rarest gold medals ever struck by the United States Mint. The 1920 Wilson dollar is a seldom-seen numismatic rarity that is highly […]

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Condition Rarity 1884-CC Morgan Dollar Offered at GreatCollections

By CoinWeek …. Bidding ends Sunday, June 16 on GreatCollections.com for this 1884-CC Morgan Silver Dollar, graded MS-67+ by PCGS and approved by CAC. Struck at the fabled Carson City Mint, very few of the issue’s documented 1,136,000-coin mintage were known to have survived. That is until the GSA (General Services Administration) sales of the […]

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United States 1887-O Morgan Dollar

Description The 1887-O Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at the New Orleans branch of the United States Mint. New Orleans struck 11,550,000 Morgan dollars in 1887 and nothing else, and while the vast majority were ultimately melted, the coin remained plentiful in the […]

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Heritage Auctions – Seldom Seen Selections: 1922 High Relief Peace Dollar with Unique Antique Finish

Judd-2018 is a recently discovered trial striking of the 1922 High Relief Peace dollar, struck in business-strike format and first reported by David W. Lange in 2007. It is one of the rarest die combinations from 1921 to 1922, a time period when the Mint experimented extensively with the relief of Anthony de Francisci’s artistic […]

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Heritage 2019 FUN US Coins Signature Auction: Lots You Need to Know

By CoinWeek….. Beginning on Wednesday, January 9, Heritage Auctions will conduct their first U.S. Coins Signature Auction of the 2019 calendar year. Heritage’s FUN sale is a bellwether event for the rare coin hobby and all eyes will be focused on not only the price performance of the lots in this sale but also whether […]

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New Book on So-Called Dollars from Pacific Coast Expositions Just Released

So-Called Dollar dealer Jeff Shevlin and William D. Hyder announced the release of their new book, So-Called Dollars from the Pacific Coast Expositions. It is an illustrated reference and is the second in a series of books Shevlin plans to publish to redefine and expand the field of collecting So-Called Dollars. The preface is written […]

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Coin Profile – 1892-1893 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar

As the first commemorative Half Dollar struck, the Columbian Exposition Half Dollar holds a special place in the long and historic commemorative series. From the first proof striking that sold for $10,000 in 1892,(The first specimen struck was bought for $10,000 by the firm that made Remington typewriters, as a publicity stunt) and to the […]

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Rare Chapman Proof 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar to be Offered at Summer FUN Show

Business strike 1921 Morgan dollars are common, but proofs are significant rarities. None were officially made for collector sale, but the grading services recognize two varieties: the Chapman proofs and the Zerbe proofs. Certified Zerbe proofs tend to be from VAM-1AG or VAM-47 dies, and do not show all characteristics of proof Morgan dollars of […]

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Spitting Eagles, Alligator Eyes and Donkey Tails: Three Morgan Dollar Varieties

Morgan Dollar Varieties By Ron Drzewucki – Modern Coin Wholesale ….. Outside of a “Bugs Bunny” Franklin half dollar, it’s hard to beat some of the colorful names attributed to Morgan Dollar Varieties over the years. I don’t often write about them, so to “fill in the gaps” and maybe introduce people to one of […]

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Heritage Auctions – Finest Cert. 1879 Schoolgirl Dollar in Silver at FUN

The Schoolgirl dollar is George T. Morgan’s masterpiece. The design of Liberty faces left, with E PLURIBUS at the left rim, seven stars above, UNUM at the right rim, four more stars, the date 1879, and finally two more stars before we come back around from whence we began. Liberty’s hair is combed back and […]

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Q. David Bowers: Welcome to the Wonderful World of Morgan Silver Dollars!

By Q. David Bowers – Stack’s Bowers …… (Or, if you’re already familiar with this series, you may still enjoy my comments concerning the coins) Background We all need to bow down in the direction of Washington, D.C. and retroactively thank Congress for passing the Bland-Allison Act of February 28, 1878. Back then the American […]

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Whitman Publishing Releases Overview of So-Called Dollars

The third edition of MEGA RED (the Deluxe Edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins) includes a 10-page full-color appendix on So-Called Dollars, a class of nearly 800 different historical medals, many of them struck by the United States Mint. The section’s author, Jeff Shevlin, is a specialist in the field. He defines […]

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10 Great Moments That Shaped American Coin Collecting, Part 1

By David Thomason Alexander for CoinWeek ….. Selecting with absolute precision 10 of the greatest moments in the history of coin collecting in the United States is a daunting task. Numismatics has enjoyed more than 160 years of growth in the U.S. since its murky beginnings in the early 19th century. Its rollicking career has […]

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United States 1881-S Morgan $1 Silver Coin

Description: The 1881-S Morgan dollar is a large silver coin that was struck at the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint. Known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, the Morgan dollar is named for designer George T. Morgan, who served as a United States Mint engraver from 1876 until his death in […]

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United States 1886 Morgan $1 Silver Coin

Description: The 1886 Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Nearly 20 million 1886 Morgan dollars were made, and while the vast majority were ultimately melted, enough survive today to satisfy general collector demands. The Morgan dollar, as […]

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CoinWeek IQ: Numismatic America: Behind the Scenes at the National Numismatic Collection – 4K Video

In this 4K CoinWeek video, editor Charles Morgan joins ANA President Jeff Garrett for a rare behind the scenes tour of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Jeff and Charles discuss the 1804 dollar, George T. Morgan’s sketchbook, a rare never-before-filmed 2008 Ultra High Relief gold pattern struck at the Perth Mint for the U.S. Mint, plus six important […]

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Classic U.S. Coin for Less Than $500 Each, Part 25: Liberty Head Nickels

Coin Rarities & Related Topics: News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, markets, and coin collecting #355 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds ….. Publicly distributed, Liberty Head nickels were minted from 1883 to 1912. A set of business strike Liberty Head nickels may be completed without spending as much as $500 on any one coin. […]

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Four Captivating U.S. Patterns from the Stack’s Bowers Baltimore Auction

By Hubert Walker for Coinweek…. Stack’s Bowers, the official auctioneer for the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo in Baltimore, will hold its next Rarities Night Auction of U.S. Coins on November 3. The 196 lots up for offer consist of a variety of lustrous, rare and conditionally rare examples of almost every classic American coin […]

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Collecting Classic Gold Commemorative Coinage (1903-1926)

By Jeff Garrett for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… This is a great time to collect one of the most interesting and attractive United States coins series My last article focused on classic commemorative silver coins struck from 1892 to 1954. As enumerated, there are many compelling reasons to collect this long-ignored series. Nearly all […]

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Medallic Portraits of Abraham Lincoln: Beyond Brenner

By Eric Brothers for CoinWeek ….. When one thinks of the image of Abraham Lincoln upon a coin, Victor David Brenner’s cent is the first thing that comes to mind. And, for the vast majority of people, it’s the only thing that comes to mind. At the time of its debut the Lincoln cent was […]

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1892-1893 Columbian Exposition Half Dollar

Based on an article by Lee Gast…. As the first commemorative Half Dollar struck, the Columbian half holds a special place in the long and historic commemorative series. From the first proof striking that sold for $10,000 in 1892,(The first specimen struck was bought for $10,000 by the firm that made Remington typewriters, as a […]

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First Read: The Gold Indians of Bela Lyon Pratt by Allan Schein

First Read, a continuing series of essays about classic and contemporary works of numismatic literature… Review by Charles Morgan for CoinWeek …. The Gold Indians of Bela Lyon Pratt by Allan Schein The period of our nation’s monetary history that began shortly after the turn of the century and ran until about 1932 or ’33 […]

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Classic US Coins: The 1913 Liberty Nickel Through the Years

  By Eric Brothers for CoinWeek ….. There are several theories associated with the creation of the 1913 Liberty (V) nickel. One tells us that the Liberty Head nickel bearing that date was produced–unauthorized by the United States Mint–by Mint employee Samuel W. Brown or someone else on his behalf. It’s even possible that he […]

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Coin Collecting Strategies – Blueprints for Collecting Morgan Silver Dollars

By Dan Duncan – Pinnacle-Rarities ….. From buzzard to beau (bow) dollar, that large silver coin minted from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921 has gone by a number of names. Regardless of the moniker, few coins have captured the hearts and minds of both collector and general public as much as the Morgan […]

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Coin Collecting Strategies – Blueprints for Collecting Morgan Silver Dollars

By Dan Duncan – Pinnacle-Rarities ….. From buzzard to beau (bow) dollar, that large silver coin minted from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921 has gone by a number of names. Regardless of the moniker, few coins have captured the hearts and minds of both collector and general public as much as the Morgan […]

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So-Called Dollars Debut in Whitman Mega Red Book

Deluxe Edition of The Guide Book of U.S. Coins will showcase So-Called Dollars By Jeff Shevlin …… According to Kenneth Bressett, editor for the Red Book, “The growing interest in medal collecting has prompted the publishers of Whitman’s Guide Book of United States Coins to acknowledge the important role medals have for today’s collector community, […]

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US Coins – The Morgan Dollar vs. the American Silver Eagle: A Primer

The Morgan Silver Dollar and the American Silver Eagle By Ron Drzewucki – Modern Coin Wholesale ….. The Morgan dollar was born from two impulses. One was the curious political alliance of populist “free silver” advocates–who wanted a bimetallic (gold and silver) monetary standard and an inflationary monetary policy in order to relieve the crippling […]

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US Coins – An Overview of the Standing Liberty Quarter Series – Part 1

By Kathleen Duncan – Pinnacle Rarities ……   Historical Background The entire run of American coinage received a major overhaul and aesthetic upgrade between 1907 and 1921. Each and every denomination was redesigned, and with the exception of the two-and-a-half and five-dollar gold coins, each had its own unique appearance. These designs were a clear departure from […]

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Forged by Fire: The Birth of the Morgan Dollar and the Feud Between George T. Morgan and Charles E. Barber

By Shaquille Brissett of Gainesville Coins…. During the late 19th century, a culmination of market forces led to a volatility of the silver industry that provoked populist anxieties. Proposals by Representative Richard Bland and Iowa Senator William Allison would appease both Greenbackers (a post-civil war political party that favored the use of paper money and […]

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