what makes a silver dollar a morgan

[Robert]

A silver dollar is identified as a Morgan dollar primarily due to its specific design and its designer, George T. Morgan. The coin is named directly after Morgan, who was an Assistant Engraver at the United States Mint when he created the now-iconic artwork for the coin.

The defining visual characteristics of the Morgan dollar are key to its identification. The obverse, or front, of the coin features a profile portrait of Lady Liberty facing left. The reverse side depicts an eagle with its wings outstretched, clutching arrows and an olive branch. This distinct design separates it from other U.S. silver dollars, such as the Peace dollar that succeeded it.

In addition to its design, the Morgan dollar has a specific production history and composition. These coins were minted from 1878 to 1904, again for a single year in 1921, and production resumed in 2021. The classic coins were struck from a composition of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper, which was the standard for U.S. silver dollars at the time.