1881-S Morgan Dollar

The 1881-S Morgan Dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1881 and is part of the Morgan Dollar series.

Specifications

 * Designer: George T. Morgan
 * Obverse Design: Lady Liberty
 * Reverse Design: Eagle holding arrows and olive branch
 * Edge: Reeded
 * Weight: 26.73 grams
 * Diameter: 38.1 millimeters
 * Composition: Silver (90%), Copper (10%)
 * Mintage: Circulation Strikes: est. 12,760,000

Background
The 1881-S Morgan is an extremely high issue ---with 12,760,000 total mintage. Fortunately for the collector, many of the die pairs (see Die Varieties) were not used extensively, leaving a wide selection of coins that are fully struck with outstanding luster.

Of all the Morgan silver dollars from the 19th century, the 1881-S is most available in Mint State and the prices reflect it.

Collecting
The 1881-S Morgan Dollar is well-supplied in Mint State with prices in the hundreds up to MS-66. These coins are typically well-struck despite the high mintage. Many examples of this coin show outstanding luster.

This coin is readily available in prooflike condition though many on one side only. Two-sided prooflike are highly sought-after and worth acquiring.

Historical Background in 1881
On March 13, 1881, Alexander II of Russia is killed near his palace when a bomb is thrown at him. He is succeeded by his son, Alexander III. Alexander II (29 April [O.S. 17 April] 1818, Moscow – 13 March 1881, Saint Petersburg), also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881. He was also the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Finland.

On July 2, 1881, James Garfield, President of the United States, is shot by Charles Julius Guiteau. The wound becomes infected; killing Garfield on September 19. James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) served as the 20th President of the United States, after completing nine consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

On October 10, 1881, Richard D'Oyly Carte's Savoy Theatre opens in London, the world's first public building to be fully lit by electricity, using Joseph Swan's incandescent light bulbs. The stage is first lit with electrically on December 28.

Die Varieties
85 obverse dies, and roughly the same for the reverse, were combined for this year's Morgan Dollar.