Numismatic

1881-S Morgan Dollar MS-65 NGC

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Struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1881, this silver dollar represents a classic era of American coinage. It was authorized under the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, a pivotal piece of legislation that mandated the purchase and coining of silver. This specific specimen has survived in a remarkable state of preservation, earning a high grade of Mint State 65 (MS-65) for its outstanding luster and crisp details. Designed by George T. Morgan, the coin features a profile of Lady Liberty on its obverse, wearing a crown inscribed with the word LIBERTY. Surrounding her portrait are thirteen stars, symbolizing the original colonies. The reverse depicts an eagle with its wings outstretched, holding an olive branch and arrows, encircled by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR. With a composition of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper, the coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of pure silver. It measures 38.1 millimeters in diameter and 3.1 millimeters in thickness. Out of a total mintage of 12,760,000 pieces produced in San Francisco that year, this certified MS-65 example stands out as a beautifully preserved artifact of nineteenth-century minting technology.