Why are Morgan Dollars Preferred Over Peace Dollars?
BLUEJAYWAY
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I always liked the Peace Dollars more. Your thoughts?
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19th century dates, Carson City, early 60's treasury release, GSA release, longer date run.
There's way more "hype" surrounding Morgans. That said, the 1921 Peace dollar is the most beautiful silver dollar made.
Miss Liberty is far more attractive on the Peace dollar and the series can be completed by the average collector. The 1895 is a stopper in the Morgan dollar series for most collectors.
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I think the Lady Liberty obverse on the MSD is really nice.
I never liked the spiked design on the Peace Dollar.
Several reasons: Most start with an '18', they have much nicer toning, longer run and longer more involved history, 2 obsolete mints, and when your grandfather gave you a silver dollar or you saw your first silver dollar, it was probably a Morgan.
All that said, the Peace dollar is a prettier coin.
I like the Peace better personally, but I think that the generally softer looking strike turns some away from them.
They evoke the feeling of the wild west.... easy to picture the clunk that silver dollar would make on the old wooden bar top.
I personally do like the look of the Peace dollar. But the Morgan dollar is a classic... and hard to resist the historic aspect appeal.
There are so many ways to collect Morgans. Carson city coins, proof like finishes, proof coins. I collect Peace dollars personally but I do love the look of a PL Morgan with deep mirrors.
Morgan Dollars offer interesting coins from the New Orleans and especially the Carson City Mints. Many collectors find them more attractive, and they cover the period of the “old Wild West” which is historically more interesting to many collectors.
< There are so many ways to collect Morgans. Carson city coins, proof like finishes, proof coins. I collect Peace dollars personally but I do love the look of a PL Morgan with deep mirrors.>
Indeed…to include the prolonged storage of so many BU examples providing us the prevalence of beautiful toners
As expressed above there are many reasons players prefer Morgan’s. Peace Dollars are of course an easier series to complete. I like both.
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They are nicer looking, they have real luster and the design is nicer.
I have collected both in the past. I prefer the obverse of the Morgan but prefer the Eagle on the reverse of the Peace. The 19th century has dominated my collection for several decades now but for reasons stated previously by others I would be far more likely to build a Peace dollar collection. As far as why Morgans win the popularity contest there are several reasons.
Most collectors prefer to get the oldest coins they can. Peace dollars do not offer the miriad ways of choosing to build a collection. I bet people here could put together a list of ways to collect Morgans that is longer than a list of Peace dollar dates. James
Good topic. Agree with all the reasons above. Devices are sharper makes it aesthetically more appealing. Plus you just can't beat a cameo PL, some blow your mind, the fact that they are bountiful helps popularity.
Something about Liberty’s expression on the peace dollar has always bugged me. She looks slightly aghast.
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I note many reference the Wild West history of the Morgan, including association with the Carson City Mint, as a partial answer to their popularity.
Just returned from a visit to the once Carson City Mint building and here are some relevant photos I took of exhibits there. (I hadn't realized that the model for the Morgan was a school teacher).
Lest we forget, there was another that could be included in the picking of the favorite Silver Dollar from the past:
Morgan Dollars tone.
I collect both, and like both designs a great deal.
IMO, a peace dollar has to be uncirculated, or very close, to be very pretty, while Morgan dollars can be a bit more used and still be very pretty.
Peace dollars have the distinct advantage that it's a short run, and there are no regular business strike examples that are terribly expensive. My peace dollar set is entirely in an album (no certified coins), which I really like.
But there is a mystique about the Morgan dollars, dating as thye do to the last days of the "wild west," that is very attractive. It's a much more expensive set (I spent about 20 times as much on my complete set of Morgans as I did on my complete set of peace dollars, and I don't even include the the proof-only 1895 as part of a "complete set"). But there are lots of ways one could define one's own set of Morgans to make them at least somewhat affordable (e.g., a date set).
It's probably unfair for me to answer since I've never liked either one but I'd think the Morgan is more collectable due to the number of different dates with mint marks. There seems to be always a challenge even if you keep to one mint. That's my 2 cents....
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My type set includes several Morgans: 8TF; proof; DMPL; toner; 1921; CC; O.
Peace dollars: 1921 HR; 1922.
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My first silver dollar given to me by my father was a Morgan dollar. Still have it. And while I collect both now, and find Peace dollars appealing due to higher mintages with more reasonable pricing, I always return to my Morgan dollars to peruse & upgrade. It’s the lore. There’s so much of it.
The market seems to better support Morgans too. Look in any display at a coin show or B&M… dominated by Morgans. I’ll ask if they have any other Peace dollars to view and most of the time the 5 to 10 examples in the case is all they have. Same is true online.
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Strike. The reverse of most peace dollars is abysmal. The overall design is better IMO but I've grown tired of looking at the indistinct lettering.
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I've always liked both.
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The 21 hi relief should have been continued.
When I started out collecting when I was younger the fascination for Morgan's was with the 93-S,95 proof, and any CC example. As a youngster I always felt I could never complete that set due to its expense. So I gravitated towards the Peace series. As I continued, I grew to appreciate the beauty ( my opinion) of the design regardless of weak strikes.
The Peace dollar is clearly superior. The design was so magnificent that it was the last and final depiction of allegorical Liberty on our circulating coinage before the politicians took over. There are a few allegorical Liberty designs being minted now, but they don't really circulate.
Well, it's my favorite coin anyhow. I don't really care for the Morgan, but I can appreciate the reasons other people like it.
My beauties. A former top 10 Registry set, widely dispersed by now. I miss the 1924, the 28, and the 27-S. Still have the 1921.
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I don't have the answer, but I will say I agree with @BryceM "The Peace dollar is clearly superior."
I have a set of Peace dollars (nothing at all in quality compared to the set just posted) but I favor it far and above my dozen or so Morgans.
I gave up a long time ago on that debate. I enjoy both equally.
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