1879: The World Around This Coin
On January 1, 1879, the federal government resumed redeeming Civil War-era greenbacks in gold, a milestone in the long return to specie payments. The country was also expanding its rail, mining, and industrial networks across the West.
The 1879 Morgan Dollar belongs to the early run of George T. Morgan's silver-dollar design, first issued in 1878 after the Bland-Allison Act directed the Treasury to purchase silver and coin it into dollars.
Coin and Mint Details
- The U.S. Mint struck Morgan Dollars from 1878 through 1904 and once more in 1921.
- The mint remains unstated because the available item evidence does not support a confident attribution.
- The design pairs Liberty on the obverse with an eagle, arrows, olive branch, and wreath on the reverse.
- Coins could remain in bank storage, circulate in commerce, or be saved by families and collectors.
A Possible Journey*
The exact path of this coin is unknown. A coin like it may have crossed a counter, rested in a bank bag, traveled in a pocket, or waited in a collection before reaching its next keeper.
* The dated history above is factual context. The possible journey is an illustrative scene, not documented provenance for this exact item.