1878-1921 Morgan Silver Dollars

Morgan Dollars 1878-1921 Morgan Silver Dollars Morgan Dollars Morgan Dollars are among the most popular of all United States coinage. The series was introduced in 1878 and minted continuously until 1904, and again in 1921. The coins were generally struck in large quantities at a total of five different nationwide Mints. Whereas most issues of the series are readily available, there are some issues with low mintages or which saw heavy circulation. These mintage and condition rarities are highly sought by collectors. Some coins also display proof like qualities or have deep mirror proof like surfaces. These coins often command significant premiums and are the focus of high end collectors. The silver dollar denomination has long been regarded as the cornerstone of the American monetary system. First minted in 1794 at the Philadelphia Mint, it was among the first silver coins struck under the name of the United States of America. However, before the Morgan Dollar series began, the denomination had often experienced long interruptions in production and often the pieces were virtually nowhere to be found in every day commerce. The origins of the Morgan Dollar can be traced back to the Mint Act of 1873, which discontinued the Seated Liberty Dollar design. In its place the Trade Dollar was created, but intended for use primarily in trade with the Orient. The supply of silver had increased greatly following the discovery of the Comstock Lode. This increased supply was much too large for the production of Trade Dollars only, causing the silver market to fall into disarray. Direct pressure from the silver mining industry, particularly the western states, led to the creation of the Morgan Dollar. With the passage of the Bland-Allison Act in 1878, the United States government was required to buy between two and four million ounces worth of silver every month, and convert it into silver dollars. These coins could be exchanged for gold at a fixed ratio of 16:1, meaning that sixteen ounces of silver were need for a single 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, an English-born immigrant. He had had come to the United States in 1876, at the age of thirty-one, following a request by the Treasury Department. In England, he had studied and worked for the Wyon family, best known for their minting of several American colonial coinage issues. When he came to the United States, he was soon hired as assistant engraver of William Barber and started working on a large number of patterns meant for the new silver dollars. The majority of these are half dollars dated 1877, with a head of Liberty in various forms. The final design is said to have been based on Miss Anna W. Williams, a schoolteacher who lived in Philadelphia. Morgan never confirmed this, and it appears that the design was only loosely based on her. 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. Some collectors spend decades assembling the series in certified coin holders or coin album

The Coins in Your Pocket Could be Worth Thousands

The Alaska Rural Rehabilitation 1935 Token - $1,750.

Alaskan families that were relocated by the Federal Emergency Relocation Administration were given $10 “scrip” coins to be used as tender in government stores. Once the need for the coins has died out, the majority of them were melted down. If you’re lucky enough to find one, your .10 coin would be worth $1,750.

Coins in Your Pocket Could be Worth Thousands

The Kennedy 1964 Silver Half Dollar -These Kennedy Half Dollars are worth anywhere from $500 to $1500 in uncirculated condition. See, 1964 was the last year half dollars were minted from 90%+ silver. Those minted between 1965 and 1970 contained less than half of this, minted with 40% silver. After that, the dollars did not contain silver.

The Coins in Your Pocket Could be Worth Thousands

The “Extra Low Leaf” 2004 Wisconsin Quarter - $140

Simply due to an extra lower leaf attached to the corn stalk on the 2004 Wisconsin quarter, this 25 cent piece can now fetch near $140. It’s believed that there are 5,500 of these coins in circulation. How these mint design errors occur, no one truly knows.

Coins in Your Pocket Could be Worth Thousands

Out of all errors possible, this must be the most humorous. Rather than the famous “In God We Trust,” this quarter reads, “In God We Rust.” This error came to be from excess grease build-up in the printing machines at the mint. This fun quarter is worth $100 or so if it still resides in “mint” condition.

2021 Washington quarter dollar bearing a new reverse design

The 56-coin America the Beautiful Quarters Program also instituted under the 2008 law is set to conclude with the January 2021 release of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site quarter dollar representing the state of Alabama. April 5 is scheduled as the official release date by the U.S. Mint through the Federal Reserve of a

illustrating Gen. Washington crossing the Delaware River with his troops during the American Revolution. Issuance of the Washington quarter dollar follows from a provision of the America’s Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008, Public Law 110-456.

Buffalo Nickels! Key Data For Collectors & Surprising Facts!

President Theodore Roosevelt began the movement to make US coins more appealing in the early 1900s. His influence brought about the Lincoln cent in 1909. And, the upgrade continued after his administration. During the administration of President William Howard Taft, an artist was commissioned to create a new nickel with distinctly American themes. The result of this is the Buffalo nickel. It began its run in 1913 and continued until 1938.

1913 Buffalo Nickel James Earle Frasier was the name of the artist who created the Buffalo nickel. If you look below the date on the face of the coin, you will see an "F" for his last name "Frasier".

"F" mark on Buffalo Nickel Photo by PCGS During the first year of production, there were two designs for the back of the nickel. On the original, the bison is standing on a rounded mound of dirt. On this mound of dirt reads "FIVE CENTS". This design didn't work out well, as the wording would wear off. This version is known as "TYPE 1" or "RAISED MOUND". 1913 Raised Mound Buffalo Nickel The second design of the back of the Buffalo nickel has a flatter mound and the lettering is under it, rather than on top of it. This version is called "Type 2". That way the lettering wouldn't wear off so fast. 1913 Type 2 Buffalo Nickel

Errors and Varieties There are several interesting varieties of the Buffalo nickel. I present some here. First, is the 1916 Double Die.

1916 Buffalo Nickel, double die Photo by PCGS Here is a close-up. 1916 Buffalo Nickel, double die Photo by PCGS Next is the 1918 over 7. You can see the die has been altered to turn a "1917" nickel into a "1918" nickel. 1918 over 7 Photo by PCGS

Here is a close-up. Buffalo Nickel, Three Legged Photo by PCGS

There is variety of errored Buffalo nickels which occurred from 1913 to 1930. These were caused by over-polishing the dies. These are known as "Two Feathers" Buffalo nickels. You will notice by looking at the picture below, the third feather from the headdress of the chief, closest to the back of his neck, is missing. Not all numismatic groups recognize the Two Feather Buffalo nickel as an official variety. As you can see from the photo, PCGS does. Key Dates The 1913-S Type 2, 1913-D Type 2 and the 1921-S all had low mintage and are key dates for this reason. History Who is the chief on the face of the coin? This is actually a combination of three different chiefs. The artist, James Earle Frasier, didn't want to show favoritism to any particular tribe. So, he had three chiefs model for him. These chiefs were as follows. Chief Big Tree - Kiowa

Chief Two Moons - Cheyenne

Chief Iron Tail - Lakota

There were other Native Americans who also claimed to be models for the coin. Perhaps this is true. But, per Frasier, the above were the three. Bison or Buffalo? The animal on the back of the coin is a Bison. Although they are distant relatives of the buffalo, they are distinctly different animals.

American Bison Photo by Wikipedia The American Bison has a huge, muscular hump on its back which allows it to plow through snow easier. These are missing from Asian and African Buffalo. Also, its horns are smaller than its Asian and African ancestors. You could argue the point. However, consider this from Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biological Institute, "Though the terms are often used interchangeably, buffalo and bison are distinct animals. Old World “true” buffalo ... are native to Africa and Asia. Bison are found in North America and Europe. Both bison and buffalo are in the bovidae family, but the two are not closely related." Perhaps we should call them Bison nickels!