Numismatic

1890-S Morgan Dollar VG/VF

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The 1890-S Morgan Dollar represents a classic era of United States silver coinage. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this coin carries the 'S' mint mark on its reverse, a detail that connects it directly to the historic West Coast facility. This particular specimen survives in a condition ranging from Very Good to Very Fine, showing the honest wear of a coin that likely spent time in active circulation. The Morgan series itself was a staple of American commerce, circulating throughout the nation for approximately 80 years. On the obverse, the design presents a profile of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, which features a band inscribed with the word 'LIBERTY'. Surrounding this central portrait are thirteen stars, the year 1890, and the Latin motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'. The silver piece contains 0.7734 troy ounces of actual precious metal, minted with a purity of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. The reverse of the coin displays a bald eagle with its wings spread, grasping arrows and an olive branch in its talons. This central motif is encircled by the inscriptions 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' and 'ONE DOLLAR', along with the national motto 'IN GOD WE TRUST' positioned above the eagle. For observers of historic coinage, these details offer a vivid window into late nineteenth-century American design.