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How to Identify a Morgan Dollar

Named after its designer George T. Morgan, the Morgan dollar was in production from 1878 until 1905 and then again for a single year in 1921. Made of .900 fine silver, it was introduced as a result of the discovery of the Comstock Lode in Nevada and the subsequent Bland-Allison Act of 1878, which required the U.S. Treasury to buy substantial quantities of silver on an annual basis. Overproduced at the time, some 270 million pieces were subsequently destroyed. The Morgan dollar has since become collectible among U.S. numismatists.

Things You'll Need

Digital scales

Instructions

- 1
  Look at the obverse, or the front of the coin. You should see a laureate head of Liberty -- the profile of a female with a band of laurel in her hair. Severely neoclassical, the face is quite distinct from the Art Nouveau-influenced profile by Anthony DeFrancisci on the Peace dollar, which succeeded the Morgan dollar in 1922. A row of stars flanks the date, and the legend should read "E. Pluribus. Unum" (with periods).
- 2
  
  The reverse has the much-criticized eagle inside a wreath.
  
  Turn to the reverse. You should see an eagle with a wreath, the legend "United States of America" and the denomination "One Dollar." (The eagle, along with other aspects of Morgan's design, was mocked in some quarters when the coin was first issued as looking more like a starved buzzard than an emblem of national pride.)
- 3
  Place the coin on a set of digital scales. It should weigh 0.7734 oz. If it weighs any less, it is either significantly worn or a reproduction made from a lighter alloy.

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