1888-O Morgan Dollar MS-65 PCGS

Product Details

This 1888-O Morgan Dollar, graded MS-65 by PCGS, represents a tangible connection to America's Gilded Age and the bustling New Orleans Mint. Struck from .900 fine silver, it embodies the lasting appeal of one of the U.S. Mint's most iconic designs.

Imagine America in 1888, a nation rapidly industrializing and wrestling with significant monetary questions. This 1888-O Morgan Dollar, minted in New Orleans, captures that dynamic period with its impressive .900 purity, containing 0.7734 troy ounces of silver, and its substantial 38.1 mm diameter. With a mintage of 12,150,000, these dollars were produced under the mandate of the Bland-Allison Act, a legislative response to the powerful "Free Silver Movement" advocating for an expanded money supply. The "O" mint mark, positioned on the reverse below the eagle, proudly signifies its origin from the historic New Orleans Mint—the only Southern U.S. Mint to produce this popular series.

The obverse of this dollar presents Lady Liberty, her classical profile adorned with a Phrygian cap, a laurel wreath, and a small coronet inscribed with "LIBERTY." This iconic portrayal was famously modeled by Philadelphia schoolteacher Anna Willess Williams. The reverse features a majestic eagle with outstretched wings, clutching an olive branch and arrows, encircled by "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the coin's "ONE DOLLAR" denomination. Designed by George T. Morgan, an English-born assistant engraver, these intricate details are remarkably preserved on this particular coin, which has been independently certified at a superb MS-65 grade by PCGS.

While many 1888-O dollars are known for exhibiting softer strikes or duller luster, finding one in MS-65 condition allows for a clearer appreciation of Morgan's original artistic intent. The coin's considerable weight of 1.80 troy ounces and a thickness of 3.1 mm contribute to its substantial feel. Though millions of Morgan Dollars from this era were melted down under the Pittman Act of 1918, subsequent releases from Treasury vaults brought these historic pieces back into circulation for enthusiasts. Owning this 1888-O Morgan Dollar means holding a meticulously preserved artifact from a time when the very definition of American currency was fiercely debated, a beautiful example of a coin that circulated through a transformative chapter of the nation's financial narrative.