1879 $1 Morgan Silver Dollar - PCGS MS64

The Morgan Silver Dollar was minted in the United States from 1878 to 1904 and once again in 1921, and it is a coin with a rich history. In 1873, Congress enacted the Fourth Coinage Act which effectively demonetized all silver bullion in the U.S. Before this, anyone could take silver into the Mint to be struck into legal tender. With this process in place, anyone who produced bullion could have silver coined into dollars even when the value of a silver dollar was lower than the face value. This meant that they were making a profit and that, in turn, began the process of inflation. This ended the coinage of the Seated Liberty Dollar and made way for the mintage of the silver trade dollar. Initially, it was met with little resistance from mining interests but only until the price of silver began to decline because of increased mining in the West. Groups were formed by miners, bankers and manufacturers who demanded the free coinage of silver to inflate the dollar after the depression that began in 1873.

Starting from 1876, bills were sent to the House of Representatives to attempt to resume the free coinage of silver. An outcome of this was the Bland-Allison Act that was passed in 1878. This Act required the Treasury to purchase two to four million dollars' worth of silver per month to be struck into coins. A new design for these coins was therefore required so the Director of the Mint, Henry Linderman, began his search for an engraver. Linderman contacted Deputy Master of the Royal Mint in London, C.W. Fremantle, who suggested George T. Morgan for the post.

Morgan arrived at the Philadelphia Mint on October 9, 1876, and not long after enrolled as a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts to prepare for his Liberty head design. He also studied nature for the reverse design of the bald eagle. To capture Liberty as an American woman rather than as a Greek-style figure that had previously been used in coinage, one of Morgan's friends suggested the use a young schoolteacher named Anna Willess Williams as a model. In the design on the obverse of the coin, Liberty wears a ribbon in her hair inscribed with "LIBERTY" and behind her lies a Phrygian cap, a symbol of knowledge. The year of mintage can be found at the left of her neck, and around the bottom of her portrait, the 13 stars that represent the established states are engraved. Above her head, you can see the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM."

On the reverse of the coin, Morgan has depicted an American bald eagle surrounded by a laurel wreath. In his talons, he holds arrows and an olive branch, symbols of peace and America's willingness to fight for what she believes in. The reeded edge of the coin has the engraving "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" as well as the coin's denomination "ONE DOLLAR." The motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" is placed neatly between the eagle's wings.

This coin was minted in 1879 and comes in choice uncirculated condition meaning it only has moderate marks or deficiencies. Every coin contains a mintmark on the reverse unless it was struck at the main mint in Philadelphia in which case it will have no mintmark. Regardless of the year, the Morgan Silver Dollar is one of the most recognized coins in American history, and this coin is an affordable version to add toward the completion of your collection.

Features of the 1879 $1 Morgan Silver Dollar - PCGS MS64:
• Mint: U.S. Mint
• Denomination: $1
• Purity: .900 pure silver
• PCGS: Professional Coin Grading Service
• Certification: MS64 (Choice uncirculated, moderate marks or deficiencies)
• Reverse: design of an American bald eagle encircled by a laurel wreath
• Obverse: left-sided portrait of Lady Liberty by George T. Morgan
• Edge: Reeded