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Why was there never a Barber Dollar or Morgan Half Dollar
Zoins
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The Seated Liberty design was used for coins from dollars to half dimes. Why was the Morgan design used only for dollars and why did the Barber series not include the dollar?
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Do patterns count?
I have three old blue Whitman folders for holding coins in front of me as I type - copyright 1940 - and the folders are titled 'Barber, Liberty Head or "Morgan" Dime'; "Barber, Liberty Head or "Morgan" Quarter; and 'Barber, Liberty Head or "Morgan" Half Dollar.
The inner blue piece of paper which divided the second from the third page calls the coins "Morgan Type Liberty Head" but Charles E. Barber is also mentioned in the brief text.
So the terminology did overlap when Whitman first started making inexpensive coin folders.
Good question... One of our forum historians surely has some information on this... @RogerB ... anything in the records?? Cheers, RickO
As I'm sure you know, the Morgan Dollar was designed in the 1870's and began production in 1878. Charles Barber was following in his fathers footsteps as the Chief Engraver at the time, and took over the position in 1879. George Morgan worked under Charles Barber at the mint.
Charles Barber got his first shot at designing a coin with the Liberty "V" Nickel which began production in 1883. A decision was made around 1890 to replace the Seated series design. Charles Barber really wanted to take on the task himself, but was encouraged to hold a design competition. Artists were invited to submit their designs, but guess who was the judge? Charles determined that none of the submissions were satisfactory and awarded the task to himself. Production of the Barber series began in 1892.
The dollar coin designed by George Morgan was not really a circulating coin, and received little attention. There was no interest in replacing the design as the coin slowly faded away with decreasing production. Charles Barber passed away in 1917 and Morgan took over the Chief Engraver post, but by then he had seen better days.
Good question why did they decide not to make this ?
The reverse design of this 1877 pattern half dollar was eventually used, MOL, on the reverse of the 1915s Panama Pacific $2.50 gold piece.
The introduction of the Morgan Dollar in 1878 coincided with a vast influx of fractional silver coins that had previously been hoarded during the Civil War back into circulation. Mintages for the dime, quarter and half fell sharply in 1878 and were reduced to token levels in 1879 and 1880 so that the Proof coins would not be rare. Under the circumstances the introduction of Morgan dimes, quarters and halves might have been unwise.
Eventually the surplus of dimes was absorbed and they resumed production, and then quarters, but the need for new halves did not develop until 1891 and the work of creating new designs was renewed. By then Charles Barber had consolidated his power and he created the new designs, as described above.
In numismatics as in many things, “Why not?” is often more difficult to answer than “Why?”
For the new Standard Silver Dollar authorized in 1878, William Barber and George Morgan were each authorized to prepare a design. After much discussion, Director Linderman selected Morgan’s version. He said that both were artistically meritorious and equal overall. He gave the nod to Morgan’s work because it was in lower relief than Barber’s. That meant easier striking. It might also have influenced Linderman that he brought Morgan to the US in 1876 and that _Morgan worked for Linderman as “Special Engraver” _and was not in the same chain of authority as Barber. Further, Barber had acquired a reputation with Linderman and Philadelphia Superintendent Pollock as something of a “screw-up.” He had created a less-than-satisfactory Trade dollar design, sent out undated dies, and messed up the relief on Type III double eagles, among other problems.
Linderman’s “Grand Plan” was to revise all coinage with an Ideal Head of Liberty on the obverse and a simplified reverse similar to the Standard Silver reverses. Each series – gold, silver and minor – would have its own Liberty. Morgan was supposed to do this. W. Barber didn’t like it and wanted to be part of the project. Open “warfare” ended when Linderman threatened to send Charles Barber to San Francisco to harden dies – permanently. Bickering continued until W. Barber died Sept. 1, 1879 and Linderman followed from cancer in a few months.
All we have of the grand plan are some patterns – mostly made on verbal authority.
Pattern coinage is some of the most beautiful, rare, expensive stuff you can find.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1879-10c-Silver-Dime-Pattern-Proof-Coin-J-1568-NGC-PF-63-Morgan-WW-/182264343423?hash=item2a6fcd2b7f:g:lZMAAOSwgmJXyGN1
Insert witicism here. [ xxx ]