1879-S Morgan Dollar MS-65 PCGS

The year 1879 marked a dynamic period for the United States, grappling with economic policy and an expanding industrial landscape. Against this backdrop, the U.S. Mint began striking one of its most iconic series: the Morgan Dollar. These silver dollars were a direct response to the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, a legislative effort to reintroduce silver into the nation's monetary system after a period where gold dominated. This act mandated the government to purchase and coin a substantial amount of silver each month, bringing these impressive coins into circulation.

Designed by George T. Morgan, an English engraver working for the U.S. Mint, the coin's artistic details are a focal point. The obverse presents a graceful profile of Lady Liberty, her likeness modeled by Philadelphia schoolteacher Anna Willess Williams. She wears a Phrygian cap, a classic symbol of freedom, adorned with wheat and cotton, symbolizing America's robust agricultural foundation. Thirteen stars, representing the original colonies, encircle her, along with the motto "E Pluribus Unum" and the year "1879."

Flipping the coin reveals its powerful reverse, featuring a majestic bald eagle with outstretched wings. The eagle firmly clutches an olive branch in one talon, signifying peace, and a bundle of arrows in the other, representing national defense. Above the eagle, "In God We Trust" is inscribed, with "United States of America" and "One Dollar" completing the design. This particular coin, bearing the "S" mint mark, was produced at the San Francisco Mint, which struck 9,110,000 Morgan Dollars in 1879. Coins from the San Francisco Mint are often celebrated for their sharp details, reflecting the mint's consistent quality.

This 1879-S Morgan Dollar boasts a Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) grade of MS-65, denoting its superb mint state condition, with full original luster and only minor imperfections. Crafted with .900 purity silver, each coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of precious metal. With a diameter of 38.1 mm and a thickness of 3.1 mm, this silver dollar carries the weight of its era. For those seeking an example of America’s industrial might and artistic expression from the late 19th century, this 1879-S Morgan Dollar provides a tangible connection to that formative period.