Coin Specifications

The Morgan Dollar was a silver dollar issued from 1878 to 1904. One more year of production took place in 1921. The coin takes its name from the designer George T. Morgan. The coin’s obverse features an image of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with agricultural elements including wheat, oak, and cotton incorporated into the band. The reverse of the coin features a Bald Eagle grasping an olive branch and arrows with a wreath surrounding. Morgan Dollars were minted usually in high numbers at five different mints, although there are several key dates. Similar to other coins of the era the composition was 90% silver and 10% copper.

Morgan Dollar Coin Specifications

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The America the Beautiful Quarter series will continue the issuance of quarter dollar coins with rotating reverse designs that was established by the 50 State Quarters Program and continued by the US Territories and District of Columbia Quarters Program. The new series will be structured around the different states and territories, but the designs will take focus on National Parks and National Sites at each location. The obverse of each of the coins will feautre a restored portrait of George Washington based on the 1932 Washington Quarter. The new America the Beautiful Quarters series is expected to be an educational experience for the public about our National Parks and other federally designated areas. The first coin is scheduled to be released in 2010 and the series will continue for 56 different coins until 2021. Coins will be issued in clad composition for circulation and the clad version of the proof set.

America the Beautiful Quarter Coin Specifications

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The Franklin Half Dollar replaced the popular Walking Liberty Half Dollar series which had run from 1916 to 1948. The new series was a dramatic change in design, depicting a famous American instead of the allegorical Liberty figure. It also featured a very different style with broad flat surfaces as opposed to the detailed nature of the prior design.

The obverse of the Franklin Half features a right facing bust of Benjamin Franklin, modeled after a bust prepared by an 18th century sculptor. The reverse features the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and a small eagle added due to the legislative requirement that an eagle appear on the reverse of the denomination. Coins were minted at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints, but only five years saw production at all three mints. Proof coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint from 1950 to the end of the series.

Franklin Half Dollar Coin Specifications

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The most recent major change for the composition of the Lincoln Cent came in 1982. By that time, the rising costs of base metals had made the penny cost more to produce than its face value. After experimenting with a number of different potential compositions, the US Mint decided to use a composition of copper coated zinc. This would provide a cheaper material, but the Lincoln Penny would still remain its familiar color and feel.

The composition change occurred during the year, so 1982 pennies exist in both the old copper based composition and the new zinc based composition. At this time, the Lincoln Cent design featured the bust of Lincoln designed by Victor D. Brenner and the reverse Lincoln Memorial design from Frank Gasparro. The zinc based composition continues to be used for the 2009 Lincoln Cent designs released for circulation. During the zinc era, coins were struck for circulation at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, and struck in proof for collectors at the San Francisco Mint.

Zinc Lincoln Cent Coin Specifications

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Although the Eisenhower Dollars produced for circulation did not contain any silver, the US Mint produced collectible versions of the coins which contained 40% silver. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, these modern silver dollars have an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to a core of 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper. The coins were produced in both uncirculated and proof versions and sold individually from 1971 to 1974. The uncirculated coins came in blue envelopes and came to be known as “Blue Ikes”. The proof cons in brown boxes came to be known as “Brown Ikes”. Silver versions of the Bicentennial 1976 Eisenhower Dollar were also produced. These were sold in 3 coin sets, along with the half dollar and quarter.

Silver Eisenhower Dollar Coin Specifications

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