Question for the historians here. Why was the Morgan School Girl Dollar dated 1879? Was there an intention by the Mint to replace the design (as we know it today) just one year after the Morgan Dollar was first minted? Thanks. (This is not my coin.)
If it was your coin ,you would live in a Institution . I mean Smithsonian ,,, . There were very few Stuck . I found some info . here ....School Girl US Pattern Dollar Coin (coinauctionshelp.com)
This coin, above all other U.S. mint designs, is the most beautiful created. I've held to in my hands in the past 35 years. I would give anything to own one. Just my opinion.
"Mint officials were reportedly unhappy with the issued Morgan dollar design, but once it achieved a workable average die life, it made little practical sense to risk its replacement. " "The aptly named Schoolgirl dollar pattern is credited to George T. Morgan, designer of the eponymous circulating silver dollars that were roundly condemned at the time of their issue. Casting around for more pleasing designs that were never adopted, Morgan developed this delightful portrait of a young, fresh-faced Liberty." No historian here, just a couple quotes I quickly dug up off the web.
The Morgans were referred to as "Bland Dollars" at the time of their inception (after the Bland Act). They were not well liked by collectors or the general public. The model for them was also outraged that her name had been leaked to the press. As an aspiring school teacher, it was considered very risque that she had posed for such a work. And, she had been promised anonymity... Both reasons that Morgan may have gone back to the drawing board in 1879. And the 8 tail-feather error (as remarked upon by various naturalists) was still a fresh goad on him.
The coin is J-1608. Probably fewer than 15 exist. This particular coin is from the Lemus collection and was sold by Heritage in 2009 for $115,000. A picture of it in its NGC slab is below. A “cheap” lower grade example might be bought for $50,000 if you’re lucky. In many years of the 19th century, dozens of pattern designs were produced annually. To learn more about patterns, buy the standard reference: United States Pattern Coins, 10th ed. by J. Hewitt Judd. Published by Whitman and not very expensive. Factoid: This particular coin was actually owned by Hewitt Judd himself. Cal