George T. Morgan
Encyclopedia
George T. Morgan was an English United States Mint engraver, who is famous for designing many popular coins, such as the Morgan Dollar
, and the Columbian Exposition half dollar
.
, England, Morgan studied in England
, and worked for many years as a die engraver at Messrs. J.S. & A.B. Wyon. Morgan came to the United States
from England in 1876 and was hired as an assistant engraver at the Mint in October of that year under William Barber. He figured very prominently in the production of pattern coins from 1877 onward. Morgan designed several varieties of 1877 half dollar
s, the 1879 "Schoolgirl" dollar, and the 1882 "Shield Earring" coins. Eventually, Morgan took the role of seventh Chief Engraver following the death of Charles E. Barber
in February 1917. Morgan is most famous for designing the Morgan Dollar
, one of many namesakes, as well as the never-released $100 Gold Union coin.
Morgan Dollar
The Morgan dollar was a United States dollar coin minted intermittently from 1878 to 1921. It was the first standard silver dollar minted since production of the previous design, the Seated Liberty dollar, ceased due to the passage of the Fourth Coinage Act, an act which also ended the free coining...
, and the Columbian Exposition half dollar
Columbian Exposition half dollar
The Columbian Exposition half dollar is a commemorative coin minted to raise funds for the World's Columbian Exposition held in 1893, and to commemorate the quadricentennial of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Americas- Obverse :...
.
Biography
Born in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England, Morgan studied in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and worked for many years as a die engraver at Messrs. J.S. & A.B. Wyon. Morgan came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from England in 1876 and was hired as an assistant engraver at the Mint in October of that year under William Barber. He figured very prominently in the production of pattern coins from 1877 onward. Morgan designed several varieties of 1877 half dollar
Half dollar (United States coin)
Half dollar coins have been produced nearly every year since the inception of the United States Mint in 1794. Sometimes referred to as the fifty-cent piece, the only U.S. coin that has been minted more consistently is the cent.-Circulation:...
s, the 1879 "Schoolgirl" dollar, and the 1882 "Shield Earring" coins. Eventually, Morgan took the role of seventh Chief Engraver following the death of Charles E. Barber
Charles E. Barber
Charles Edward Barber was the sixth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint from 1879 until his death in 1917. He succeeded his father, William Barber, in the position...
in February 1917. Morgan is most famous for designing the Morgan Dollar
Morgan Dollar
The Morgan dollar was a United States dollar coin minted intermittently from 1878 to 1921. It was the first standard silver dollar minted since production of the previous design, the Seated Liberty dollar, ceased due to the passage of the Fourth Coinage Act, an act which also ended the free coining...
, one of many namesakes, as well as the never-released $100 Gold Union coin.