Collectors Guide to Morgan Silver Dollars - Littleton Coin Company

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A History ofThe Philadelphia MintThe history of the United States Mint in Philadelphia stretches back tothe time when George Washington was president and our nation’s capitalwas Philadelphia. The establishment of the U.S. Mint was provided for inthe Act of April 2, 1792. The first coins struck at the original mint inPhiladelphia were minted, according to popular belief, from silverhousehold plates personally delivered by President Washington himself!The Philadelphia Mint was the first public building erected by authorityof Congress. The Mint remained in Philadelphia after the federal governmentwas relocated to Washington, D.C., although debates continued for thenext 28 years between advocates whobelieved the Mint belonged in thenational capital and opponents whoinsisted it stay in Philadelphia. OnMarch 10, 1828, Congress authorizedthe Mint’s continuation in Philadelphiauntil otherwise provided by law, whichfinally laid the issue to rest.A watchdog named Nero waspurchased for $3 and, together with awatchman, provided security for the firstMint. Construction on a new facility beganin 1829, and the larger Mint operated for70 years. As coinage production increased,the U.S. Mint expanded twice more inthe city of Philadelphia.The “Plain” MorgansThe second Philadelphia Mint beganoperations in 1833 and continued until1901. It was at this Mint that the beautifulMorgan silver dollars were first struck andhere that the bulk of the PhiladelphiaMorgans were minted.Unlike the branches with theirdistinguishing mint marks, thePhiladelphia Mint, because it was thefirst in the nation, struck coins withouta “P” mint mark. These coins are oftenreferred to as “plains.”Morgans minted at the mainU.S. Mint in Philadelphia aredistinguished by their lack of amint mark and are sometimesreferred to as “plains.” Thesecond Philadelphia Mint(shown above) was a statelybuilding that producedMorgan silver dollars from1878 until it closed in 1901.Philadelphia-minted Morgansdated 1902-1921 were struckat the city’s 3rd Mint.“Plain” Morganno mint mark8
The New Orleans MintThe U.S. branch Mint in New Orleans has a history as colorful andinteresting as the city itself. Established as the commercial and financialcenter of the entire South, New Orleans wanted some monetaryindependence from the northern banks and the Philadelphia Mint.Heated debates raged between northern and southern senators over theneed for a Mint in New Orleans. Southern congressmen stood their groundand a New Orleans branch of the U.S. Mint was authorized in 1835.A stately building occupying an entire block was built next to thefamous French Quarter on the banks of the Mississippi River. Coinageoperations began in 1838 and then were suspended for much of 1839when a yellow fever epidemic caused the Mint to close.The Mint with Three MastersBy 1860, relations between North and South had become very tense. InJanuary of the next year, Louisiana became the second state to secedefrom the Union. Within a week, the state of Louisiana took over theThe New Orleans Mint was a sprawling, E-shaped building located near thewaterfront. It overlooked the bustling docks that made New Orleans animportant center of commerce by the early 1800s.New Orleans Mint. Some Mint employees, still loyal to the Union,destroyed a number of dies.Two months later, the Confederacy took over the Mint. This was thethird government in ten weeks that had control over Mint operations! TheConfederate Mint struck coins only until May of 1861, then was closed assoldiers raided it for war material.After the Civil War, the New Orleans Mint stood unused until 1876when it opened as an assay office. By 1879, the demands for coinagecaused the U.S. Mint to resume regular operations at the branch Mintin New Orleans.9
Page 1 and 2: LITTLETON’S$4.95COLLECTORS GUIDE
Page 3 and 4: Collecting is a way to make time st
Page 5 and 6: What became of the partners?Despite
Page 7: The American Eagle on the reverse o
Page 11 and 12: The Morgan Silver DollarDate: 1878
Page 13 and 14: of silver dollars stored in Treasur
Page 15 and 16: California Street, looking west tow
Page 17: The Mint at Carson Citywas nothing
Page 21 and 22: Some homesteaders constructed their
Page 23 and 24: The Reno Casino HoardRudy, like Red
Page 25 and 26: The History ofLittleton Coin Compan
Page 27 and 28: Caring for Your CoinsProper handlin

Collectors Guide to Morgan Silver Dollars - Littleton Coin Company

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