George T. Morgan is probably best known for being the designer of the Morgan Dollar. Click here: www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/morgan_dollars/1878_morgan_dollars/1878_morgan_silver_dollar.htm He, also, "earned" the position as the seventh Chief Engraver for the United States Mint succeeding Charles E. Barber in 1917. How did he "earn" the post? Do you know he was born in Birmingham, England in 1845? Do you know Birmingham was the home city of some of the best mints in the world at that date including the Heaton and Wyon Mints? Do you know the Wyon Mint was world famous for striking superb medals and was the medalist for the Crown of Great Britain? Do you know the Wyon Mint struck the much sought after "Bar" Cents and the "Nova Constellatio" coppers used during our early Federation years? Click www.coinfacts.com/colonial_coins/bar_cent/bar_cent.htm for "bar cent." Click here for "Nova Constellsatio coins: www.richmondfed.org/about_us/our_tours/money_museum/virtual_tour/the_new_nation/nova_constellatio_cent.cfm Do you know Morgan gained employment at Messrs. J.S. & J.B. Wyon and was tutored for many years as a die engraver? Do you know he left England early in 1876 to seek his fame and fortune in the United States and was hired as an assistant engraver in October of that year under Chief Engraver, William Barber? Do you know he began designing and engraving pattern coins in 1877 and produced several half dollar pattern varieties? Do you know some of the coin patterns he made include the 1879 "Schoolgirl" dollar (Judd 1609) and the 1882 "Shield Earring" coins?(Judd 1698) You now know why I say, "He earned it". Click for Judd 1512 http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1907_3395654 Click for Judd 1609: http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1915_151417 Click for Judd 1698: http://store1.yimg.com/I/uspatterns_1915_1507180 Clinker
Clinker: Thanks, once again, for some great facts. Also, those are great patterns! Love the pictures, hate the fact that I cannot afford them. Maybe some day. Frank
Great info Clinker. Those patterns are AMAZING! Seeing Morgan was brought up, here's an image of Anna Williams.
To eddyk eddyk: I don't know. Maybe somebody else knows. My gut feeling is he only created some pattern medals while at Wyon. I think he secretely desired to try his hand at coinage, but wasn't given the chance. Clinker
