I stumbled upon this today on EBAY. I thought it might interest some here. Link has the info. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Smiths...2615&clkid=6154165598074098014&_qi=RTM2561945 The Smithsonian has been releasing some very obscure designs that have historically significant implications, though newly minted.
That doesn't look like any Morgan pattern that I've ever seen. Interesting take on the Trade dollar reverse though.
How is it that it has approximately the correct diameter (38.61 mm instead of the standard 38.1 mm), but only weighs 10 g instead of 26.73 g? What am I missing? Edit: "Precious Metal Content: 10 g" "Fineness: .999" ...?
Looks like the dies were produced from one of Morgan's early sketches for dollar designs. Cool design for a silver round.
Had to re-read the description a couple times with no explanation to your question. It is either razor thin, or listed incorrectly??? Or I am missing something???
That has little to do with an actual Morgan dollar. Several years ago, Whitman released a book authored by Karen Lee that was mostly Morgan's private sketchbook. Sketchy (ha ha) private mints have rendered some of those designs in silver rounds so that they can sell them as rare, historic, never-before-seen designs to unsuspecting consumers. This may be one such silver round.
I figured it out. The rest of the weight is on the other side. See below. This Smithsonian (2017) 10g Silver Morgans First Silver Dollars Proof gives collectors who take a serious interest in numismatic history the opportunity to add a truly unique piece to their sets. For decades, these designs sat hidden away in the Smithsonian's storage. While George T. Morgan is better known for his iconic "Morgan Dollar" design, this sketch was actually the first dollar design he had ever created. Although it was never officially struck on U.S. coinage.
