Numismatic

1903-O Morgan Dollar MS-64 PCGS

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The year 1903 marked a significant chapter for the New Orleans Mint, an institution that produced coinage from 1838 until 1909, with a temporary pause during the American Civil War. Among the treasures from this era is the 1903 Morgan Dollar, a classic silver coin struck in 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. This specific piece has survived the decades in remarkable condition, earning a certified grade of Mint State 64 (MS-64). George T. Morgan designed the obverse side of the coin, which features a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty. Her hair is adorned with a Phrygian cap decorated with wheat ears and cotton blossoms, symbolizing American agriculture. Surrounding her profile are the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, thirteen stars representing the original colonies, and the date 1903. On the reverse, a majestic bald eagle spreads its wings while grasping a bundle of arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The eagle is encircled by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR, along with the national motto IN GOD WE TRUST. Positioned just below the wreath on the reverse is the "O" mint mark, signifying its origin from the Southern minting facility. Weighing 26.73 grams and measuring 38.1 millimeters in diameter, this coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of pure silver, making it a substantial and fascinating artifact of early twentieth-century American coinage.