1882-O Morgan Dollar

The 1882-O Morgan Dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1882 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. 6,090,000

Background
The New Orleans Mint continues to strike large numbers of Morgan Dollars in 1882 with 6,090,000 mintage for the year. The New Orleans Mint strikes the third largest amount for the year with 11,100,000 from the Philadelphia Mint, 1,133,000 from the Carson City Mint and 9,250,000 from the San Francisco Mint.

Collecting
The 1882-O is a well-struck coin with a muted luster. Though not as well struck as coins from the other mints, the New Orleans Mint issue for 1882 can be found from above average to weak. Pieces are accessible to MS-64 with higher grades at a premium. Finding a well-struck, deeply frosty 1882-O can take some time.

Historical Background in 1882
On April 3rd, 1882, Old West outlaw Jesse James is shot in the back of the head and killed by Robert Ford. Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary figure of the Wild West after his death. Some recent scholars place him in the context of regional insurgencies of ex-Confederates following the American Civil War rather than a manifestation of frontier lawlessness or alleged economic justice.

On August 18th, 1881, the Married Women's Property Act 1882 receives royal assent in Britain; it enables women to buy, own and sell property and to keep their own earnings. The Married Women's Property Act 1882 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that significantly altered English law regarding the property rights granted to married women, allowing them to own and control their own property.

August 20, 1882, Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture debuts in Moscow. The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture or the Overture of 1812 is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1880 to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of Borodino in 1812. The overture debuted in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow on August 20 [O.S. August 8] 1882, conducted by Ippolit Al'tani. The overture is best known for its climactic volley of cannon fire, ringing chimes, and brass fanfare finale.

Die Varieties
A large number of die varieties were used on the 1882-O and a few are considered significant.