Numismatic

1897 Morgan Dollar MS-64 NGC

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This silver dollar, minted in 1897, represents a fascinating era in American currency. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the coin carries no mint mark, which was the standard practice for the main facility. It is composed of 90 percent fine silver, containing 0.7734 troy ounces of the precious metal, and measures 38.1 millimeters in diameter with a thickness of 3.1 millimeters. This particular piece has been certified in Mint State 64 (MS-64), indicating its exceptional state of preservation. The obverse displays a classic profile of Lady Liberty, surrounded by thirteen stars and the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. On the reverse, a bald eagle with outstretched wings dominates the design, accompanied by the inscription ONE DOLLAR. The subtle initial M, representing the designer George T. Morgan, is integrated into both sides of the coin. Historically, this coin is tied to the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, a significant piece of legislation that mandated the government purchase and coin specific amounts of silver. This policy was deeply intertwined with the passionate Free Silver debates of the late nineteenth century, which pitted advocates of a silver-backed currency against supporters of the gold standard. This 1897 issue stands as a tangible survivor of those intense economic and political discussions.