Numismatic

1904-O Morgan Dollar AU

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The 1904-O Morgan Dollar represents a fascinating moment in American currency, minted during an era when silver dollars circulated widely as a staple of daily commerce. Struck at the historic New Orleans Mint, as indicated by the 'O' mint mark, this coin is composed of 0.7734 troy ounces of silver with a purity of 0.900. The Morgan Dollar series itself served as United States currency for roughly 80 years, leaving a lasting legacy on the nation's monetary history. On the obverse, Liberty is depicted facing left, wearing a Phrygian cap with a hair band inscribed with the word 'Liberty'. Surrounding her image are thirteen stars, the year 1904, and the Latin motto 'E Pluribus Unum'. The reverse features a heraldic bald eagle clutching both arrows and an olive branch, symbolizing strength and peace. Legible inscriptions on this side include 'United States of America', 'One Dollar', and 'In God We Trust'. While 3,720,000 of these coins were originally minted in New Orleans, their journey through time took an unexpected turn. Many of these silver dollars remained sealed away in government vaults for decades. In October 1962, a portion of the 1904-O mintage was finally released from storage at the Philadelphia Mint, while other examples emerged from the Treasury Building vaults in Washington, D.C., bringing these historic silver pieces back into the public eye.