#65 • 1879 Silver Morgan Dollar Philadelphia

Part of Gold and Silver Showcase (live auction by Blue Box Auction Gallery)

High bid $44.00

Status: Sold

Estimated Value: $100-300 Origin: United States Denomination: One Dollar Year: 1879 Mint: Philadelphia Grade/Condition: Estimated: MS Metal: Silver Weight (+/- 0.2g): 26.6 Grams Additional Description: The 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar from the Philadelphia Mint represents the second year of issue in this enduring and widely collected series. As with all Philadelphia-struck coins of the era, it carries no mint mark. Designed by George T. Morgan, the obverse features the now-iconic profile of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap crowned with agricultural motifs symbolizing American prosperity. The reverse displays a robust eagle with wings spread, clutching arrows and an olive branch, surrounded by the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “ONE DOLLAR,” with “IN GOD WE TRUST” above. This issue does not carry the die variations found in some of the branch mint coins, such as the 1879-CC with its notable "Capped Die" or "Clear CC" varieties, but it is nonetheless a key component in any full date-and-mintmark Morgan Dollar collection. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, issued during the continued implementation of the Bland-Allison Act, the 1879 Morgan reflects the U.S. government's commitment to large-scale silver coinage, blending artistic innovation with the economic and political forces of the Gilded Age.