how many grams should a morgan silver dollar weigh

[DelAiden]

Ah, the great Morgan weigh-in! It's a rite of passage for every collector, as I see some are discussing online. You get a new piece of history, you admire its luster, and then you get that nagging feeling: "Is this thing for real?" Breaking out the scale is the next logical step.

According to the official specifications that have been the standard for ages, a pristine, uncirculated Morgan Silver Dollar should weigh exactly 26.73 grams. Think of it as the coin's official fighting weight, a figure derived from its classic American recipe of 90% silver and 10% copper.

Now, before you declare a slightly lighter coin a dastardly fake, remember that a century of circulation takes its toll. A Morgan that has rattled around in pockets, been slapped on a counter, or otherwise lived a full life will have lost a tiny bit of its metallic soul to friction. A weight slightly below 26.73 grams is perfectly acceptable for a well-loved, circulated coin. However, if your scale shows a number that's wildly off the mark, that's when your expert senses should start tingling. It could be a sign of a counterfeit that doesn't have the proper metal composition.