1891 Morgan Silver Dollar XF

1891 Morgan Silver Dollar

Morgan Silver Dollars minted in Philadelphia do not have a mint mark, because at the time these coins were minted the Philadelphia Mint was considered the 'main mint' facility and did not use any privy marks for that reason. All other mints used mint marks, so Philadelphia minted coins were easy to detect due to the absence of such marks.

Morgan Dollar History

The Coinage Act of 1873 had put an end to the standard weight 'Seated Liberty' dollar in favor of a slightly heavier coin to be used for trade in the orient. The Seated Dollar was not in favor among the Chinese because of its slightly lighter weight as compared to the comparable coins of China, Japan, and Mexico. The new 'Trade Dollar' was the answer, and was minted from 1873 until 1885, although the final coins were minted for trade in 1878. All issues minted thereafter were proof coins made for collectors.

The Bland-Allison Act of 1878 required the U.S Treasury to purchase between $2 and $4 million in silver each year to mint into silver dollars, further supporting the idea of backing the U.S. dollar with both gold and silver. Because the government wanted to return to standard weight silver dollars for circulation, the Trade dollar was officially demonetized in 1876, and an order was given in 1877 to cease production of the coins in favor of the new coins. This is where the Morgan Dollar comes into the picture.

When the Trade Dollar was demonetized and orders were to stop producing them, there was a desperate need for a new standard silver dollar design. Mint officials accepted a revision of a half dollar design created by Assistant Engraver George T. Morgan, and English born die sinker who had traveled to the United States just two years prior to begin working on American coin designs. After his new design was put into production in 1878 it was modified slightly to correct the number of tail feathers on the eagle and to lower the relief for better striking, but the basic design remained virtually unchanged throughout the life of the series which ended in 1921.

Morgan Dollar Design

First used in commerce beginning in 1878, the Morgan Dollar is the most iconic 'American' coin, evoking thoughts of the old West, antique casino slot machines, and huge caches of buried treasure among the youth and imaginative people of the United States. It is among the most collected coin designs in the world, and ranks highest among all silver dollars for the number of known issues and the number of collectors purchasing them.

Morgan designed the coin with agriculture in commerce in mind, with representation of cotton and wheat in the headdress of Lady Liberty on the obverse. The reverse design was to be a simple eagle with wings outspread surrounded by a wreath of olive branches. The design was simple yet ornate enough to win over the Chief Engraver's design (William Barber) in the eyes of the Director of the Mint, Henry Richard Linderman.

Morgan Silver Dollars as Collectibles

Morgan dollars were minted in record numbers through most of the years they were made. Although their mintage figures seem very small in comparison to today's coins, they were very plentiful for the population of the late 19th century. Even at that, many are gone today through melting, natural attrition and for other various reasons. While it is true that many Morgan dollars are still readily accessible through collector channels, their numbers are far smaller today than their mintage figures may indicate.

Today Morgan silver dollars are considered highly collectible and are among the most popular coins in US Mint history. National numismatic clubs have been formed around collecting this prized Silver Dollar, and books are still being published with newly discovered varieties and information about these coins which - for the most part - have been around for a century!