Morgan Silver Dollar Coin – 1878-1904 XF

Few American coins carry the cultural weight of the Morgan dollar. Struck during a defining era of westward expansion and industrial growth, these coins circulated through frontier towns, banking houses, and everyday commerce for decades. An Extremely Fine example represents a coin that saw real use but retained enough detail to satisfy collectors who want genuine history without the cost of an uncirculated piece.

Key Features:

• Composition & Silver Content: 90% silver, 10% copper — .7734 troy oz of actual silver
• Weight & Diameter: 26.73 grams, 38.1 mm, reeded edge
• Obverse Design: Left-facing portrait of Liberty wearing a crown inscribed “LIBERTY” and a wreath of wheat and cotton; “E PLURIBUS UNUM” above, thirteen stars around the rim, date below
• Reverse Design: Heraldic eagle with wings spread, clutching arrows and an olive branch; “IN GOD WE TRUST” above, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “ONE DOLLAR” around the rim
• Grade: Extremely Fine (XF) — significant detail retained, light wear on high points only
• Date Range: 1878–1904; specific date and mint mark vary by available inventory

The obverse centers on Liberty in left profile, her hair pulled back and loosely flowing, with a cap inscribed “LIBERTY” set above a wreath of wheat and cotton leaves. The portrait was modeled by Philadelphia schoolteacher Anna Willess Williams, lending the design a naturalistic quality that set it apart from earlier allegorical renditions. Designer George T. Morgan’s initial “M” appears at the base of the neck. Thirteen stars ring the border, with the year struck at the bottom — the example shown dated 1889.

The reverse presents a bold heraldic eagle, wings fully extended, head turned right. It grips a bundle of arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other, with a shield at its breast. “IN GOD WE TRUST” arches above in period lettering, and laurel branches frame the lower composition. At Extremely Fine grade, the eagle’s feathers retain clear definition across both wings, and Liberty’s hair retains strong detail above the ear — the areas where wear first appears on heavily circulated examples.

Morgan dollars were produced at Philadelphia, San Francisco, Carson City, New Orleans, and — in 1921 — Denver. The specific date and mint mark on coins from this listing will vary based on current inventory. Each coin is $1 face value, fully backed by the U.S. government, and ships in protective packaging.

With over 120 years of age and nearly three-quarters of a troy ounce of silver in every coin, the Morgan dollar remains one of the most collected and traded coins in American numismatic history. Add one to your collection today.