Dollars · 1878–1904, 1921, 2021–
Morgan Silver DollarNow grading
Years of issue: 1878–1904, 1921, 2021–
Years
Designer
George T. Morgan
Composition
90% silver, 10% copper (modern .999 collector issues)
Diameter
38.1 mm
Mass
26.73 g
Thickness
2.4 mm
Edge
Reeded
Mints
Philadelphia, Carson City, San Francisco, New Orleans, Denver
Metal
Silver
Design
Anna Willess Williams as Liberty; reverse a heraldic eagle with IN GOD WE TRUST on a ribbon. 1878 8-tailfeather vs 7-tailfeather, and 7/8 overstrike, are first-year varieties. Reverse of 1878 vs 1879 is a VAM specialty.
History
The Morgan is the coin of the Comstock Lode. The Bland-Allison Act forced the Treasury to buy western silver and strike dollars nobody in the East wanted to spend. Bags sat in vaults for decades — which is why mint-state pieces are common for some dates and nearly unknown for others (1893-S, 1889-CC, 1895 proof). Carson City issues are a cult. 1921 was a one-year revival after the Pittman Act melted hundreds of millions. 2021 anniversary coins, then 2023– collector Morgans, extended the type into the present. It is the center of gravity of American silver collecting.
Key dates
Varieties
1879-CC · 1879-CC capped CC / perfect CC
repunched mintmark · scarce
1888-O · 1888-O Hot Lips (VAM-4)
doubled die · scarce
1889-CC · 1889-CC
design · key
1893-S · 1893-S
design · key
1895-P · 1895 proof only
design · stopper
1901-P · 1901 doubled die reverse (shifted eagle)
doubled die · rare
114 issues