1890 S Morgan Silver Dollar

 Item#: MDA3
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MDA3
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1890 S Morgan Silver Dollar

Morgan Dollars are amongst the best known and most popular of all US coinage. Originally minted in 1878 and produced continually until 1904, with a one off run in 1921 Morgan Dollars were produced in large quantities at five different mints. Most issues of the Morgan were produced in significant quantities but some issues were produced in lower mintages or saw heavy circulation. The lower mintages and coins with proof like surfaces are much sought after by collectors and as such command a premium.

The Morgan Dollar's origin was seeded in the Mint Act of 1873 which discontinued the Seated Liberty Dollar. The Trade Dollar was created as a replacement but it was not intended for day to day use instead was primarily intended for use in trade with countries in the Far East. Following the discovery of the the Comstock Lode the Silver supply increased significantly leading to a fall in the price of Silver, this lead to pressure from the Western states to find a way to create demand for silver and so the Bland-Allison Act was born in 1878. This Act required that the US government purchase 2-4 million ounces of Silver and convert it into silver dollars with the rate fixed at sixteen ounces of Silver to one ounce of Gold. The silver buying would be done at the current market rate, but the ratio would remain fixed despite fluctuations in the value of both metals. The measure was intended to restore the circulation of silver dollars, but large quantities of the newly minted coins would remain in storage for a very long time.

The new silver dollars featured a design by George T. Morgan. English born Morgan had emmigrated to the United States in 1876, he was soon hired as assistant engraver to William Barber and started working patterns meant for the new Silver dollars.

The obverse of the Morgan Dollar depicts Liberty’s head, facing left. She wears a Phrygian cap, with the word LIBERTY on her hair band. Various agricultural features are seen, including wheat and oak leaves. Above the portrait is E PLURIBUS UNUM, with each word separated by a single dot. To the left are seven stars and another six are to the right. It must be noted that the stars are flat, thus not showing the radial lines usually found on American coinage. The date is below, and the designers initial, “M” for Morgan, is on the truncation of the neck.

The Morgan Dollar reverse features a Bald Eagle with wings outstretched with a small wreath surrounding. A branch and three arrows are within the eagle’s claws. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is above, and the denomination ONE DOLLAR is below. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds both the wreath and eagle.

The design was slightly modified throughout the years. The first year of issue in 1878, with several varieties related to the number of tail feathers on the eagle. The first issues had a total of eight tail feathers, but this appeared unnatural and was later altered to seven tail feathers. In the process, a number of dies were altered, creating the 7/8 tail feather or doubled tail feather variety. Although this is a variety, it is often collected as a regular issue and included in most sets. The Morgan Dollars struck in 1921 were made from completely different hubs, and show many design differences on both sides.

A complete basic set of Morgan Dollars by date and mint mark consists of 97 coins and represents a major accomplishment to complete in any grade.

 

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