Morgan Silver Dollar
The Morgan Silver Dollar, minted from 1878 to 1921, is a classic American coin designed by George T. Morgan. Featuring a portrait of Lady Liberty on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse, the coin was struck to support the silver mining industry following the Bland–Allison Act to help the price of silver. Each coin measures 38.1 mm in diameter, weighs 26.73 grams, and is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, containing 0.7734 troy ounces of silver.
Key Morgan Dollar Rarities
| Date | Mintmark | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1893-S | S | 100,000 | Rarest business strike |
| 1889-CC | CC | 350,000 | Key Carson City issue |
| 1895 (Proof) | – | 880 proofs | Proof-only; no business strikes |
| 1894 | P | 110,000 | Very scarce |
| 1893-O | O | 300,000 | Rare in all grades |
| 1892-S | S | 1,200,000 | Extremely rare above VF |
| 1895-O | O | 450,000 | Very scarce, especially higher grade |
| 1884-S | S | 3,200,000 | Gems (MS66+) bring 5–6 figure prices |
Mint Quality
| Mint | Strike Quality | Notable Issues |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans (O) | Poor | Weak hairlines, flat eagle breast; worn equipment |
| Philadelphia (P) | Mixed | Strong in early years; poor in 1921 due to new hubs |
| Denver (D) | Poor (1921) | Flat, dull strikes due to high-speed, low-relief dies |
| San Francisco (S) | Good | Crisp detail, especially in early 1880s |
| Carson City (CC) | Fair to Good | Inconsistent; smaller runs helped maintain quality |
Don’t confuse weak strike with wear—many weakly struck coins retain full luster and minimal surface marks.