The Morgan Dollar, designed by George T. Morgan, is perhaps the most popular US coin series among collectors.
History
Authorized by the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, Morgan Dollars were struck from 1878 to 1904, then again in 1921. They were part of the government's effort to support silver mining interests.
Key Facts
- **Composition**: 90% silver, 10% copper
- **Weight**: 26.73 grams
- **Diameter**: 38.1 mm
- **Designer**: George T. Morgan
Mint Marks
Morgan Dollars were struck at five mints: - Philadelphia (no mint mark) - San Francisco (S) - New Orleans (O) - Carson City (CC) - most valuable - Denver (D) - 1921 only
Key Dates
- 1893-S: Lowest mintage, most valuable
- 1889-CC: Scarce Carson City issue
- 1895: "King of Morgan Dollars" (proof only)
- 1884-S: Condition rarity
Collecting Strategies
Popular approaches include: - Date sets (one from each year) - Complete sets by date and mint - Carson City sets - VAM varieties - Top-grade collecting