Origin of the Morgan Dollar
by Staff EditorDid you know that the very first of the Morgan Liberty Head dollars was presented in 1878 to President Rutherford Hayes? He was the man who had originally vetoed the Act under which they were struck! Despite the original opposition to the new coin it was an instant success once it reached circulation. People admired the design then, just as everyone does now.
George T. Morgan who created this powerful design was hired by the Mint in 1876 as a “special engraver.” He had formerly worked for the British Royal Mint where he had been a pupil of master engraver William Wyon. During his early years of work at the Mint he was constantly in competition with other skilled mint engravers for acceptance and approval of his work. It wasn’t until he completed the original designs for his beautiful head of Liberty for the dollar coin that his talent was fully recognized and appreciated. Today the Morgan dollar is rated as one of the most popular coins among collectors, and something that every American is proud to own. At a recent auction sale, one of the rarest of dates, the 1895 in top condition, was purchased by a wealthy collector for $42,900.00!
Courtesy of The American Historic Society Coin Collector's Newsletter
