Click to enlargeJ1517/P1681

George T. Morgan's famous Liberty Head design previously believed to have been modeled after Anna Williams. Research by Robert W. Julian notes that this is actually the first of the 4 Morgan dies of this year.

At least 9 examples are known as follows: To see images of all of these, click here.

1) Doughty 4/1891, Reed-Durham Museum (P254) – ICG63RB spotty especially on obverse - Illustrated above.

2) Maris 6/1886, Garrett-JHU, Stacks 3/76, Evans-B/M 8/98, Simpson-Heritage 5/22 - PCGS66RB

3) 71 ANA, Queller-Heritage 1/09 as NGC66BN, B/M 6/10 (NCS'd), Heritage 1/13 - NGC66RB - Pollock plate

4) Farouk-Sothebys 2/54, Bolender 10/55, Bergin-Stacks 6/84 - cleaned, lacquered

5) Terrell-B/R 5/73 - cleaned ?

6) Merkin 9/67, Coronet Coin FPL, Champa-B/R 5/72, Sieck-81 ANA, Superior 10/92 (not sold), 96 ANA (not sold), B/M 8/98, R. Shippee, StacksBowers 11/23 - PCGS65RB

7) Stacks 10/88, Superior 10/89, Auction 90, Tangible Assets, Teletrade 3/3/93, Marin, 94 ANA - PCGS65RB

8) Fred-B/M 11/95, Heritage 7/03 as PCGS65RB, Simpson-Heritage 9/20 - PCGS66RB

9) Heritage 4/21 - PCGS62BN, same as #4 or $5 ?

Boosel-Rarcoa 4/72 may duplicate either #7, #8, #9 or is a 10th.

This design was also struck in silver
J1516/P1680 with only 6 known

For pedigree information on this and all 1877 half dollars, click here.

Photo from the Byron Reed Collection; owned by the City of Omaha, Nebraska; on loan to The Durham Museum.