I recently picked up an original Morgan Dollar coin on that trip to Beck Bullion in Edmonton, the remakes I had picked up a few months ago.
Morgan Silver Dollar
The Morgan Dollar is well known by collectors and stackers - it was originally minted from 1878 to 1904, and 1921. The original coin is 90% silver and 10% copper - in accordance with the Coinage Act of 1837, the copper also made the circulated coin more durable. The coin was designed by engraver George T. Morgan, his model for Lady Liberty was Anna Willess Williams (Source).
Lady Liberty Side
Original Morgan Dollar
The Lady Liberty side of the original Morgan Silver Dollar features Lady Liberty's head, looking to the left. Across the to is the text "E PLURIBUS UNUM" - the motto of the US, a Latin phrase meaning 'out of many, one'. At the bottom of the coin is "1921", the mint year of the coin. The thirteen stars along the lower edge of the coin represent the original thirteen colonies.
Sunshine and SilverTowne Mint
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The Lady Liberty sides of the 1oz pure silver remakes are very similar to the original. The Sunshine Mint remake has the text "SMI" instead of the mint year. The SilverTowne Mint poker chip style remake has no year and eighteen stars for some reason, but it does have a stack friendly poker chip style edge.
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Eagle side
The center of the original coin features an eagle with outstretched wings, clutching arrows and an olive branch, framed with a wreath - just above the eagle is the text "In God we trust". Along to top curve of the coin is the text "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", along the bottom curve of the coin is the text "ONE DOLLAR".
Eagle Side remakes
The Sunshine Mint eagle side Morgan remake has the text "ONE TROY OZ .999 FINE SILVER" along the bottom curve, and no text directly above the eagle. The circle in the center of this round is the Sunshine Mint Mark.
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The SilverTowne Mint poker chip style eagle side Morgan remake has the text ".999 FINE SILVER" along the bottom curve, and "ONE TROY OUNCE" directly above the eagle.
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I enjoy that natural toning on the original Morgan, another fine addition to the stack.
