Numismatic

1879-S Morgan Dollar MS-63 NGC

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Struck in 1879 at the San Francisco Mint, this Morgan silver dollar is a stunning survivor from a pivotal era in American currency. The coin was produced under the authority of the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, a piece of legislation that required the United States government to purchase silver bullion specifically for coining into dollars. This particular specimen has been certified in Mint State 63 (MS-63), preserving the crisp details of its original design. The obverse of the coin features George T. Morgan's classic depiction of Lady Liberty, facing left and wearing a crown inscribed with her name, alongside the year 1879. On the reverse, a majestic bald eagle is depicted with its wings spread wide, holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons. This design is framed by a wreath, with the 'S' mint mark of the San Francisco facility resting just below it. With a composition of 90 percent silver, the coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of pure silver. It measures 38.1 mm in diameter and 3.1 mm in thickness, weighing a total of 26.73 grams. Out of a mintage of 9,110,000 struck at the San Francisco Mint that year, this certified MS-63 example offers a remarkable look at nineteenth-century American minting craftsmanship.