Uglier than the Morgan Dollar ...

In a few posts that I can’t find, a couple people made the comment that they think that the Morgan Dollar is unattractive. I’ll grant you that it’s not the greatest design, but it’s far from the worst in the U.S. series. Some of the worst have been in the modern commemorative coin series where the U.S. Government really has no excuses. Why issue designs that are this bad?

Here is the worst of all. It actually took two "artists" to design the reverse of the Capital Vistor Center Half Dollar.



I thought I had photos of the others but I don't. Here is my list of other ugly or disappointing commemortive coins:

The 1987 Constitution commemorative silver dollar - the line-up of patriots on the reverse look like a set-up for bowling.

The 1988 Seoul Olympics silver dollar - And exchange of the Olympic flame on one side and the Olympic rings on the other. The late Tom Lacey, who used to run a coin shop in Massachusetts, got this reaction when he offered these coins to customers as possible Christmas presents, "Yea, what else have you got?"

The 1991 Mount Rushmore $5 gold piece. The main design device on the reverse is "Mount Rushmore National Memorial." It looks like something you could design on your computer in a couple of minutes. When asked about the starkness of the design, the artist claimed that he had a lot of commissions and didn't have the time to do more. If I had been him I would have declined the offer to do a design if I could not do any better than that. it's the top coin in the set, the $5 gold, you don't have time to come up with anything better than that? Please.

I sure that others can cite more examples.

 

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I agree that there are some commems that only a mother could love. That being said, the Morgan is THE UGLIEST coin design meant for circulation.

 

I gotta disagree. Maybe the history associated with the Morgan has something to do with it, but I just like them.

 

I like the Morgan design also.

 

I don't about that. To me the Nickel Three Cent Piece is the least interesting.

 

The Barber nickel, dime, quarter and half are much uglier. And the ugly didn't stop at one denomination.

 

I agree with all the comments above. I would bet though that the Morgan dollar is likely responsible for a huge slice of new collectors initial interest. Big, beefy and screams old west. There is a romance associated with the Morgan that speaks to those of us that grew up watching old westerns...... However modern commemorative strikes? I wholeheartedly agree that I fail to see inspired design in most of them. Like the Chrysler K cars of the late 1970’s. Boring design upon boring design.

 

In all the coinage released for normal circulation I would say the silver 3 cent piece is the ugliest and the Barber coinage next. The Barbers look to Roman to me! I love the Morgans, all Bust coinage and the Seated Liberty series. And my favorite of all time is the Indian/Buffalo Nickel!

 

Barber anything and Franklin halfs are the worst. Give me a frosty Morgan over those two anyday of the week.

 

Personally I like the Morgan Dollar design, especially the reverse. It just screams Wild West and Freedom for all. There are a lot of other coins, in all denominations, that are far uglier.

Yes, there are many designs that are far and away better than the Morgan's so I would rate the Morgan's in the middle of the pack.

The new modern commemoratives are by far the worst looking designs known to man, from any country. Our current coin design artists have lost sight of real art and they are out of touch with what Americans want on currency, coin and paper.

 

I like the Morgan dollar. The coin I can’t get excited about is the Lincoln cent. It is an ugly design, is tiny, and many examples have a turd brown color. The RB ones are less hideous, in my opinion.

 

I wouldn’t call the Morgan dollar the ugliest, but there are certainly much nicer designs (such the Peace Dollar).

 

Actually, your avatar coin is much less appealing than the Morgan Dollar...Just talking aesthetics ....

 

I like em
I collect em
Give me all your throw aways :-0

 

I think we need to give honorable mention to the Wisconsin state quarter with the cow and the piece of cheese. That’s only one of many state quarter designs that leave a lot to be desired.

The Morgan isn’t my favorite design, but it has become a symbol of America in its own right. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to say that for the state quarters, or for the modern commems.

 

I like the Morgan.
I dislike the Peace.
I loathe the modem commemoratives.

It's no different than vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Everyone has their favorites and no one is right or wrong.

 

Can anything really beat this one?
?

 

Well look what the artist had to work with! Pretty much the same with the SBA dollar obverse...

 

You don’t like the Draped Bust design that appears on the early U.S. silver coinage? I have known collectors who though the Heraldic Eagle was a step down from the Small Eagle, but I have met one who thought the Draped Bust design was unattractive. You are a first.

 

Agree 100% @Phil Ham - The Iowa "Mounds" quarter is The Ugliest to date. I kind of like Morgans :-\