How to Identify the Morgan Silver Dollar

What It Is

The Morgan Silver Dollar was struck by the United States Mint from 1878 to 1904, and again for one year in 1921. It is named after its designer, George T. Morgan, and is one of the most widely collected historic U.S. silver dollars. Huge quantities were produced from freshly mined western silver, and large hoards later surfaced from government vaults, so the series remains plentiful in circulated and uncirculated grades alike, even though certain branch-mint dates are quite scarce.

Obverse (Front)

The obverse shows a left-facing profile of Liberty wearing a cap decorated with wheat, cotton, and a ribbon reading "LIBERTY." Above her head is "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and the date appears below the bust. Look for crisp curls in the hair and a clearly readable "LIBERTY" band on well-preserved coins.

Reverse (Back)

The reverse depicts an eagle with wings outstretched, holding an olive branch and arrows, encircled by a wreath. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arcs around the top and "ONE DOLLAR" appears at the bottom, with "IN GOD WE TRUST" above the eagle's head.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

The coin measures 38.1 mm in diameter and weighs 26.73 grams, composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. The edge is reeded (evenly ridged).

Mint Marks

Mint marks sit on the reverse, just below the wreath bow, above the "D" in "DOLLAR." No letter means Philadelphia; look for "O" (New Orleans), "S" (San Francisco), "CC" (Carson City), or "D" (Denver, 1921 only).

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

The Morgan is often confused with the Peace Dollar (1921-1935), which has a bare-headed Liberty facing left with sunrays and a perched eagle on a rock, not a wreathed standing eagle. Modern silver-round replicas may mimic the design but usually lack a mint mark or have incorrect lettering style.

Grading at a Glance

On a well-struck, lightly circulated coin, look for separation in the hair curls above Liberty's ear and feather detail on the eagle's breast. Heavy wear flattens the cheek and hair, and the eagle's breast feathers merge into a smooth blob. Uncirculated coins typically show a frosty, lustrous surface with no rub on the highest points.

Authenticity Red Flags

Common issues include added or altered mint marks (especially fake "CC" marks applied to common-date coins), cast copies with a grainy or pebbly surface instead of sharp design lines, and incorrect weight or a magnetic response (genuine Morgans are not magnetic). A soft or mushy strike, seams around the edge, or a dull gray color instead of natural silver-gray toning are also warning signs. When in doubt, compare a suspect coin's diameter, edge reeding count, and overall sound (a genuine silver dollar tends to produce a longer, higher-pitched ring than a base-metal fake when gently spun on a hard surface) against a known-authentic example.