#67 • 1879 Silver Morgan Dollar New Orleans

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

High bid $50.00

Status: Sold

Estimated Value: $100-300 Origin: United States Denomination: One Dollar Year: 1879 Mint: New Orleans Grade/Condition: Estimated: MS Metal: Silver Weight (+/- 0.2g): 26.7 Grams Additional Description: The 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar struck at the New Orleans Mint marks the first year this southern branch mint participated in the Morgan Dollar series. Identified by the “O” mint mark on the reverse beneath the wreath, this coin is part of the early expansion of Morgan Dollar production beyond Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Carson City. This coin holds particular appeal as the inaugural Morgan from New Orleans, a mint that would go on to produce Morgans nearly every year until the series’ pause in 1904. Designed by George T. Morgan, the obverse features Lady Liberty in profile, adorned with a Phrygian cap, wheat, and cotton, symbols of liberty and American agriculture. The reverse displays a heraldic eagle with wings spread, clutching arrows and an olive branch, encircled by inscriptions and framed by the signature “O” mint mark. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, the coin was produced under the mandates of the Bland-Allison Act, which required the Treasury to purchase and coin large quantities of silver, largely to support Western mining interests. The 1879-O Morgan is known for somewhat variable strike quality, a characteristic of many early New Orleans issues. Well-struck, high-grade examples can command a premium, particularly those with strong luster and clean fields. As the first New Orleans Morgan, it holds a unique position in the series, bridging the artistry of the design with the broader geographic expansion of U.S. silver coinage.