Morgan or Peace---Which one has the more attractive design?

PerryHall · December 3, 2006 6:12PM

I was at a coin club meeting where I mentioned that I thought the Peace dollar had the more attractive design. One of the other members thought I was crazy and started arguing with me. I said Ms. Liberty on the Peace dollar looked like an attractive woman while Ms. Liberty on the Morgan looked homely and a bit too masculine for my taste. The conversation went down hill from there. What's your opinion? I'm talking strictly about the design without regard to fancy toning, strike, PL surfaces, etc.

Coxe · December 3, 2006 6:27PM

I didn't add Peace dollars to my VAM collecting until a year or two ago because I always thought the design was ugly personally.

The Liberty personification on both designs is a bit androgynous looking, as it should be. I think the Morgan dollar is a very well-balanced design, with perhaps too large (overwhelming) of an obverse bust for the era. However, the detail and relief of it does warrant its size and is (again) balanced with the large reverse eagle. What the Peace design has going for it, to me, is a more realistic eagle.

Frankcoins · December 3, 2006 6:47PM

Generally, pre 1908 US coin designs are ENGRAVED with the master dies being prepared in actual size with punches and tools. Later coin designs are sculpted in clay or plaster as 12 to 16 inch models which are mechanically reduced. The later coins are considered more artistic by most people in the arts, simply because the entire design as a copy of the original work.

LastExitInNY · December 3, 2006 7:21PM

I prefer the Peace, the Morgan Liberty looks like Bea Arthur.

DJC · December 3, 2006 8:15PM

Peace, by far. I've never liked the Morgan much.

cheezhed · December 3, 2006 8:31PM

I'm partial to the Morgan over the Peace dollar.

dwssws · December 3, 2006 8:54PM

I also prefer the Morgan over the Peace dollar

STONE · December 3, 2006 8:56PM

Every dealer I go to says that the Morgan Dollar is the most beautiful coin ever produced.

It was hard for me to decipher which deisgn I liked, Morgan or Peace.

Over the last few years, I have determined that I truly like the Morgan Dollar over the Peace Dollar. Although both designs reflect the era they were produced in.

PerryHall · December 3, 2006 9:04PM

<< The Liberty personification on both designs is a bit androgynous looking, as it should be. >>

Interesting statement. Why should Ms. Liberty be androgynous looking? I'm not sure I understand your point.

PerryHall · December 3, 2006 9:06PM

<< Every dealer I go to says that the Morgan Dollar is the most beautiful coin ever produced. >>

Let me guess. These dealers have a ton of Morgans in stock and they're trying to sell you some.

DenverDave · December 3, 2006 9:50PM

The Morgan hands down..."-)

sonoranmonsoon · December 3, 2006 9:58PM

I prefer the morgan over the peace by far. But I like the seated liberty, trade, and early dollars over the morgan.

TheRaven · December 3, 2006 9:58PM

My preference is for the Morgan Dollar.....

Then again I am also a Barber collector

DJC · December 3, 2006 9:58PM

<< 

<< Every dealer I go to says that the Morgan Dollar is the most beautiful coin ever produced. >>

Let me guess. These dealers have a ton of Morgans in stock and they're trying to sell you some.

>>

Nah... couldn't be that, now could it?

fengk · December 3, 2006 10:08PM

I like the morgan more than the peace, but that's just me.

HighRelief · December 3, 2006 10:54PM

The Morgan obverse looks much more appealing to me than than the Peace.

Miss Liberty on the Peace has this Elvis lip going on and she is having a bad hair day.

bhartman35 · December 3, 2006 11:11PM

I'll split the difference. I like the Morgan obverse better, but I think the Morgan reverse is crude compared to the Peace.

billboat · December 3, 2006 11:20PM

I started out preferring the Morgan and collected them avidly. Along the way I picked up a few Peace Dollars and got into ancients as well. The more I looked at classic Greek coinage the greater appreciation I developed for the Peace Dollar's classic desgn elements--it is a beautiful coin.

ricko · December 3, 2006 11:23PM

As a coin, I prefer the Morgan... However, if, as I think this thread started, we are discussing the feminine pulchritude of the images, I agree - the Peace is more attractive. Cheers, RickO

BBQnBLUES · December 3, 2006 11:27PM

The MORGAN $ gets my vote.

OKbustchaser · December 3, 2006 11:28PM

IMO the Peace is the third most attractive dollar design (behind bust and seated); the Morgan design, however, is the ugliest design of any coin in the history of the U.S. mint.

BrianKuszmar · December 3, 2006 11:30PM

If you had to date Ms.Morgan or Ms.Peace, which would it be? heh

Dog97 · December 4, 2006 12:26AM

If the Peace Dollar didn’t have her mouth gaping like a gasping fish out of water and the cheap tiara looking like a sleazy Las Vegas showgirl it wouldn’t be so bad.
The babe on the Morgan is a hot chick, something about the grass & leaves in her hair just makes me like her.

TwoSides2aCoin · December 4, 2006 12:27AM

I think the 1921 Peace dollar is more attractive than the 1921 Morgan dollar, but the buck stops there

TheRaven · December 4, 2006 12:36AM

<< If you had to date Ms.Morgan or Ms.Peace, which would it be? heh >>

Neither they would each be 100+ years old.....

Cladiator · December 4, 2006 12:39AM

<< Morgan or Peace---Which one has the more attractive design? >>

Peace dollar every day of the week and twice on Sunday. The Morgan is fugly.

relicsncoins · December 4, 2006 1:14AM

<< If you had to date Ms.Morgan or Ms.Peace, which would it be? heh >>

I would elimidate both of them and go for Ms. Draped Bust.

JJ

BrianKuszmar · December 4, 2006 1:32AM

<< If the Peace Dollar didn’t have her mouth gaping like a gasping fish out of water and the cheap tiara looking like a sleazy Las Vegas showgirl it wouldn’t be so bad >>

Jeepers, and thats exactly what I liked aboout her..different folks, different...

keets · December 4, 2006 1:41AM

if the relief of the Peace Dollar were struck up it would probably get a different review from many people.

nesvt · December 4, 2006 1:58AM

I like them both, but prefer the detail on Morgan dollars.

Regulated · December 4, 2006 2:45AM

The Peace Dollar is a superior design in my opinion, but as keets pointed out, its execution usually leaves something to be desired. I would suggest that a true gem Peace Dollar (not a grading service gem, but the real deal) would win over quite a few converts here.

mgoodm3 · December 4, 2006 2:52AM

A very clean Morgan obv is very nice. I do like the overall simplicity of the peace design, better rev too.

SkyMan · December 4, 2006 3:30AM

Peace dollar.

Hadleydog · December 4, 2006 3:36AM

Morgan obverse hands down, while she may not be a beauty at least she doesn't look like a venus flytrap.

As for the reverse, I prefer the Peace.

oldcameoproofsguy · December 4, 2006 3:58AM

Actually I think the Liberty on the Morgan dollar looks more like the long passed but not forgotten Lyle Alzado.

I just wish the the relief on the Peace dollar was a lot higher. It looks like it was minted with a cookie cutter. Otherwise, the design on the Peace dollar is waaaaay better.

lkrarecoins · December 4, 2006 4:00AM

Morgans by a small margin....it has much more eye appeal to me...Generally, Peace dollars have a weaker strike that does nothing for me

crito · December 4, 2006 4:01AM

<< The Peace Dollar is a superior design in my opinion, but as keets pointed out, its execution usually leaves something to be desired. I would suggest that a true gem Peace Dollar (not a grading service gem, but the real deal) would win over quite a few converts here. >>

Imagine what a DMPL Peace Dollar would look like... in high relief...

Great design, poor execution, seems to sum it up well for me too.

flaminio · December 4, 2006 4:22AM

Peace, hands down. The Morgan chyk is oogly, the eagle is goofy, and it's an overall unattractive composition.

The Peace is exquisitely beautiful, the eagle is superbly rendered, and the word "peace" on the reverse is a significant message to send the world.

While I am generally against recycling old designs, I'd love to see the WL design on the SAE dumped at 25 years and replaced with the Peace design (front and back).

Longacre · December 4, 2006 4:43AM

I vote for the Peace dollar.

Coinhog · December 4, 2006 5:30AM

<< If the Peace Dollar didn’t have her mouth gaping like a gasping fish out of water and the cheap tiara looking like a sleazy Las Vegas showgirl it wouldn’t be so bad.
The babe on the Morgan is a hot chick, something about the grass & leaves in her hair just makes me like her. >>

a 1920's flapper girl with her mouth agape sounds pretty hot to me. Sleazy Las Vegas showgirls are generally hot too. There is nothing hot about Ms. Morgan (unless of course, its Morgan Fairchild)

SFDukie · December 4, 2006 5:54AM

I understand why folks love Morgans-history, length of series, DMPLs, etc.
In terms of design, IMO the Peace wins hands down.

Myqqy · December 4, 2006 6:00AM

I like both designs quite a bit, but morgans just fascinate me at some kind of instinctual level....

DickyBetz · December 4, 2006 6:03AM

Wheres the poll? I say peace.

Konahead · December 4, 2006 9:18AM

<< I prefer the Peace, the Morgan Liberty looks like Bea Arthur.

>>

You are being kind! The morgan is harsh. The Peace design is more delicate and IMHO better looking, but general strike and quality not as good as the morgan.

Konahead · December 4, 2006 9:20AM

<< I'll split the difference. I like the Morgan obverse better, but I think the Morgan reverse is crude compared to the Peace. >>

Hyperion · December 4, 2006 9:21AM

peace out, yall

ccr · December 4, 2006 9:38AM

I`m a fan of both the Morgan and Peace dollar. While the obverse of the Peace dollar doesn`t inspire me very much, the reverse I really love. One of the most unique reverses in American coinage. So, I`ll vote for the Peace dollar.

coinkat · December 4, 2006 10:01AM

Let's examine the question... which has the most attractive design?

My vote for attractive design is soley the 1921 Peace dollar because of the relief... but not the entire series as a whole. I still maintain that the 1921 is a separate higher relief example and really is a one year type coin. It is okay to laugh... I really would rather write what I think... everyone is entitled to their thoughts. Remember, in the matter of taste, there is no dispute.

Now, if the question is changed in terms of which coin represents the better craftsmanship... then, my answer would change and it would be the Morgan.

Omega · December 4, 2006 10:19AM

Peace=

Morgan=

Rollerman · December 4, 2006 1:13PM

I'd agree, the model for the Peace dollar is a more modern and youthful one, but I don't like the cotton candy hair.
I'm glad someone posted the picture of the model for the Morgan dollar as she represented an idealistic lady of her era as well. I love the romance of that era, an era the Morgan dollar reflects beautifully to me. I like the Morgan dollar the best all the way around.
I've never cared much for the seated coins, but I favor the draped bust coins over the Morgan.
Just an opinion.
Pete

dizzyfoxx · December 4, 2006 1:17PM

Hands down... Morgan.

Morgan or Peace---Which one has the more attractive design?

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