Authentic 1887 Morgan dollars are nineteenth-century United States silver coins struck from an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper. Their original specifications are 26.73 grams in weight and 38.1 millimeters in diameter, with approximately 0.7734 troy ounce of pure silver per coin. Designed by George T. Morgan, the series began in 1878 and became one of the most recognizable expressions of American coinage. The obverse features Liberty wearing a cap decorated with wheat and cotton, agricultural details that connect the portrait to the country that produced it. Thirteen stars, the date, and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM surround the design. On the reverse, an eagle holds arrows and an olive branch above a wreath, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR around the border. A reeded edge completes the substantial, dollar-sized format. Three mints produced circulation-strike Morgan dollars dated 1887: Philadelphia struck 20,290,000, New Orleans struck 11,550,000, and San Francisco struck 1,771,000. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark, while New Orleans and San Francisco coins carry an O or S, respectively. Those letters appear on the reverse below the wreath and above the denomination. These mintages describe original production, not the number of coins surviving in any particular condition. Philadelphia also produced a small separate issue of proofs, which differ in manufacture from ordinary circulation strikes. The year belongs to a period of expanding railroads, industrial development, and substantial federal silver coinage under the legislation that launched the Morgan series. Although made as money, many Morgan dollars spent years in Treasury storage rather than everyday commerce. That history helps explain why examples from the same year can look remarkably different: one may show softened details from circulation, while another retains the textured brilliance of a newly struck coin alongside small marks from storage and transport.
Authenticity involves more than a matching date or a convincing silver color. An authentic 1887 Morgan silver dollar has characteristics of its metal, dimensions, lettering, relief, edge, and dies that can be evaluated together. The published weight and diameter are useful reference points, although circulation wear can reduce weight, and measurements alone cannot establish that a coin is genuine. The silver-copper alloy is not strongly attracted to a magnet, but many counterfeit materials are also nonmagnetic, so the absence of attraction is not conclusive. Original surfaces, the shapes of individual letters and numerals, and the relationship between raised devices and surrounding fields all contribute to a fuller assessment. Independent authentication and grading can document a coin’s identity and condition; an encapsulated example typically carries a label identifying its date, mint, grade, and certification number. A holder or label is not proof by itself, since counterfeit packaging also exists, and certification records provide additional context. Condition terminology describes different aspects of a coin rather than a simple distinction between attractive and unattractive. Circulated examples may have smooth areas on Liberty’s hair above the ear, her cheek, and the eagle’s breast. About Uncirculated coins retain much of their original appearance but show slight wear, while Mint State coins have no circulation wear. Mint State does not mean mark-free: contact between heavy silver dollars in bags could leave small nicks on the cheek or in the open fields without producing circulation wear. Strike quality is another separate consideration, because incomplete detail can originate at the mint rather than result from handling. Toning may range from pale gray to deeper shades around the rims, and brightness alone does not establish originality. Cleaning, polishing, scratches, or other alterations can affect how a coin’s surfaces are described. Die varieties add another layer of interest, including recognized 1887/6 overdates in which traces of an underlying numeral remain visible. Such attributions depend on specific diagnostic features, not merely an unusual-looking date, and are distinct from damage or random marks acquired after striking.
The appeal of 1887 Morgan dollars extends from their silver composition to the small differences that make historical coinage rewarding to examine. A collector assembling a date-and-mint set may focus on the relationship among Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco issues, while someone drawn to American history may appreciate the portrait, eagle, and tangible connection to nineteenth-century commerce. For a recipient interested in coinage, engraving, or family history, an original Morgan dollar can serve as a meaningful keepsake with details that invite closer observation. Its substantial diameter makes the design easy to study under modest magnification, whether the interest lies in Liberty’s hair, the eagle’s feathers, or the mint mark tucked beneath the wreath. Comparisons with earlier issues, including
Authentic 1881 S Morgan Dollars, place the 1887 date within the broader series and provide another point of reference for mint origin, strike, and surface character. Preservation matters because the copper in the alloy adds durability but does not prevent scratches, fingerprints, or changes caused by the surrounding environment. The 38.1-millimeter diameter is relevant when matching an unencapsulated coin with a properly sized holder; an enclosure that allows excessive movement can expose the surfaces to friction. Inert, PVC-free holders and stable storage conditions limit contact with materials that can leave residue or encourage discoloration. For certified coins, the grading holder provides the enclosure, while its label preserves identifying information. Handling by the edges with clean, dry hands limits contact with the broad fields and raised designs. Polishing cloths, abrasive cleaning, and household silver treatments can alter the very surfaces collectors examine, even when the result looks brighter. Natural toning and honest wear are parts of a coin’s individual history, not automatic signs of poor preservation. Whether housed in an album, a fitted capsule, or a certified holder, an 1887 Morgan dollar remains a compact record of American mint craftsmanship, with its date, mint origin, condition, and original design providing lasting subjects for study and display.
