Why is the Morgan dollar regarded as arguably the most beautiful and most inspirational of the dollar coins that have been minted in the US. There are various reasons including the history, the rarity and the design. This article will go on to focus on the design of the Morgan dollar coin and its designer, George T. Morgan, the man from who the coin gets its name.
The Morgan coin was authorized by the passing of the Bland- Allison Act in the Congress. Pending the passing of the Act, the Philadelphia Mint Director called upon the Royal Mint in London to provide them with an engraver and thus George Morgan was sent to the US.
His design for the dollar coin was chosen amongst others. This would also remain to be the only coin he designed.
His design depicted the portrait image from the left of Madam Liberty on the forward-facing side of the coin, while the reverse was designed to depict the image of a bald eagle sitting on a branch with its wings outstretched.
Morgan chose to use the American motto ‘E Pluribus Unum’ which stems from the American Revolution or the American War of Independence.
The motto means ‘Out of many comes the One’ and comes from the Great Seal which was initially designed by the Great Seal Committee of 1776. Amongst the committee were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson who proposed the motto and was meant to signify the uniting of various colonies to form America.
Madam Liberty meanwhile is meant to represent freedom. Her locks and band of liberty are both excellently crafted into the design making the left side portrait of her face look beautiful and inspirational. Also, choosing a woman again was great and encouraging.
Then on the obverse appears the date making the forward facing side of the coin complete and appealing.
The reverse of the coin meanwhile states the face value of the coin- one dollar and the name of the country, United States of America around the edge, both words separated by two stars on either side.
It also depicts along with this the Great Bald Eagle which has come to become the national emblem of the US.
The eagle is clutching three arrows in its talons along with an olive branch- the international symbol for peace, with its wings outstretched.
The eagle was first adopted in the national seal as a bird that is majestic and also represents pure freedom and no fear.
Above the eagle’s head, on the reverse of the coin, are the words ‘In God We Trust’, which again has been a national motto since the first US coin was minted. ‘In God We Trust’ is derived from the national anthem of the US which uses ‘In God is Our Trust’.