Coin Collecting

Coins & Paper Money -> Coins: US -> Dollars

An 1896 silver dollar is one of the Morgan dollars that were minted from 1868 to 1904, and then later again in 1921. The image on these coins was designed by George T. Morgan, and while his dollar is a collector favorite today, easily found in online auctions, they were virtually ignored when they were created.

By 1873, the American collar coin was discontinued. Paper money was favored over coins. So when the large, Morgan dollar came onto the scene in 1878, few people were interested in using them. After the Comstock lode was discovered in Nevada, America’s richest silver strike to date, it was necessary to use that silver to keep Nevada’s economy from collapsing. Pressure was put on the government to make a silver dollar, so the US Treasury, despite the veto by President Rutherford B. Hayes, purchased a few million dollars worth of the silver for coinmaking. Some of that silver was used in the 1896 silver dollars, as well as other dollars from that era.

Morgan, a native of England, was brought over to be an engraver for the director of the Philadelphia Mint. Morgan’s design competed with the design by the normal designer and Chief Engraver, William Barger. Morgan’s coin was chosen, with its head of Lady Liberty on the front and a small eagle on the back. Soon after, Morgan became Chief Engraver and remained there for over 40 years, then became Chief Engraver for the United States Mint in his 70s. The 1896 silver dollar as well as all Morgan dollars produced, bear the distinction of being the only American coin Morgan ever designed.

Less than two weeks after Congress authorized the minting, the first Morgan dollars were struck, on March 11, 1878. Philadelphia produced most of the Morgan dollars, but a small mint in Carson City near the silver Comstock lode produced some dollars of that era. Though that mint closed in 1893, after the mine was essentially emptied of silver. The 1896 silver dollars was one of the 500 million Morgan dollars minted between 1878 and 1904. Despite their numbers, the coins weren’t popular with consumers. There were many used coins, in fact, that in 1918, over 270 million were melted to provide Great Britain with silver during the war. Morgan dollars were produced again in 1921, to the tune of 86 million, but stopped the following year so that the Peace dollar, which became popular, could be produced to commemorate the end of World War I.

Millions more Morgan dollars, including the 1896 silver dollar, were melted down for their silver content in the following years. In fact, it wasn’t until 1972, when the General Services Administration auctioned 2.9 million Morgan dollars, the rare ones produced by the Carson City mint that closed in 1893, that the Morgan dollar interested collectors at all. Then LaVere Redfield, a stock investor who had hoarded 400 bags of Morgan dollars, died in 1974 and his 11 tons of Morgan dollars were auctioned for $7.3 million dollars, giving the Morgan dollar real status in the coin world.

Originally posted 2008-10-14 14:00:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Coin Collecting -> US Coins -> Dollar Coins -> Morgan (1878-1921): 1878-1921, 1885-93, 1894-98, 1899-1904, 1921

The Morgan Silver Dollar is considered by many to be one of the most valuable US coins that you can collect. It’s history ranges from 1878 to 1904, and during its run, it was one of the first dollar coins that was available for public use, minus the Seated Liberty Dollar. The coin was named for its designer, George T. Morgan and to this day, collectors search for these valuable items.

The main reason that silver dollars were put into use is due to the fact that when the Comstock Lode was discovered, silver prices fell dramatically due to the influx of the rich metal onto the markets. The Bland-Allison act called for coins to be used as currency and the rest is history. It wasn’t until 1921 that silver dollars fell out of use, and during that time many were melted after the availability of silver fell again.

Out of all of the Morgan Silver Dollars that were minted, by far the most valuable one is the one called the King of Morgan Silver Dollars, or the 1895. This is a very rare coin and those that are able to find them are considered to be very lucky indeed. Many private collections contain these rare coins, and there is quite a market for them at auction. Even though the coin itself is worth only 1 dollar in silver, the value of these coins can exceed $120,000.

There is somewhat of a mystery around the Morgan Silver Dollar from 1895 that has sparked collector interest. In total, there were about 12,000 total made during that year, and 880 proofs were created as well. To date, only a small portion of these coins, around 80, have been discovered. That means that somewhere, there are more than 11,920 of these rare coins that are waiting to be found.

No one really knows what happened to them either, which makes finding one all the more special. While all Morgan Silver Dollars are valuable, it’s the King that everyone wants for their collection. In total, more than 500 million Morgans were produced during its minting period and of that amount, approximately 2.5 million are still around.

If you are looking for a true one of a kind collector coin, the Morgan Silver Dollar from 1895 is certainly the one to search for. However, finding any Morgan Silver Dollar is considered to be a feat, especially today when they are very scarce. This is a fun coin to collect and even if you never do find that special King, you can still enjoy your entire collection.

For collectors interested in stumbling onto a King, the best place to start is by looking at auctions, or at online auction sites. Many times, you can find one of these incredibly rare coins for a steal, especially if you purchase a raw lot. The hunt is still on for the King, and with more than 11,000 still out there, there is a chance that you just may be the one to find one.

Originally posted 2008-08-14 05:00:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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