Morgan's Goddess Miss Liberty
The Morgan Silver Dollar is a favorite among Coin Collectors not only in the
United States, but worldwide. There are literally hundreds of stories ...
Miss Liberty
Culturally, the problems stem from the fact that Miss Liberty's mouth is open. We prefer to keep our mouths closed and this was especially true for women of the 19th century.
Miss Liberty: the name for the anonymous lady that appears on many U.S. coins.
Morgan dollar: the silver U.S. One Dollar coins struck from 1878-1921.
mottled toning: uneven or mixed coloring on a coin.
Miss Liberty Term applied to the various incarnations of the emblematic Liberty represented on United States coinage.
mis-struck Term applied to the error coins that have striking irregularities.
ML Short for medium letters.
Miss Liberty Adorned in an Indian War Bonnet
The great sculptor mixed two traditions for the $10 gold coins by using the "Miss Liberty" profile adding a feathered Indian headdress.
Classic Miss Liberty Motif
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1286 1879 pattern dollar. P-1799, J-1604. Rarity-7. "Washlady" motif. Proof-67 BN (PCGS). Copper. Reeded edge.
Motif with Miss Liberty in a upright front-facing position. The design was used in 1907 on the Saint-Gaudens double eagles and later on the Hermon A. MacNeil quarter first struck in 1917.
Standing Liberty quarter ...
An image of Miss Liberty that depicts the style of a Roman or Greek athlete wearing a ribbon around the hair.
Cleaned ...
The model for Miss Liberty was believed to be Miss Doris Doscher, who appeared on Broadway and some silent era films under the stage name Doris Doree, until 1972. In 1972 articles appeared claiming that Mrs.
The rendition of Miss Liberty where her hair is tied with a band, usually on the forehead. Liberty head nickels of 1883-1913 are an example.
Fine weight ...
Evidently Miss Liberty exhibits an idiot's or booby's expression on her face. Bow-Wow Short for Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, Inc., a large coin outfit of the seventies and eighties. Dealer Kevin Lipton apparently coined this term.
(Mainly struck in 80% fineness.) Cap Bust Alternate form of Capped Bust Capped Bust A term describing any of the various incarnations of the head of Miss Liberty represented on early U.S. coins by a bust with a floppy cap.
The Capped Bust motif Reich created for the 1807 half eagle features a buxom Miss Liberty facing left, flanked by seven stars to the left and six to the right.
Miss Liberty is surrounded by 13 stars, seven to the left and six to the right, with the date below her. The coin's reverse carries the statement of value, ONE CENT, within a continuous wreath.
After just two years of production, 1794 and 1795, the Mint replaced the youthful Miss Liberty with a more mature and more sedate portrait, one that has come to be known as the Draped Bust Half Dollars.
The engraver's initial M appears at the truncation of the neck of Miss Liberty on the obverse and at the wreath ribbon on the reverse. In the numismatic field complaints were rife about the Morgan dollar.
The new Miss Liberty replaced John Reich's matronly "Classic Head " used from 1809 to 1829 and again, with some modifications by William Kneass, from 1831 through 1836.
The obverse shows Miss Liberty standing, wearing a gown, with a large torch in her right hand and with drapery over her left shoulder and right forearm. A close-fitting cloth cap is on her head.
On the obverse, Miss Liberty strides towards the rising sun, symbolizing our nation's march into a glorious new age - hopefully, one of peace and prosperity. Miss Liberty is adorned in a billowy gown, with a Stars and Stripes cloak.
On the obverse, it has been reported that the model for the Draped Bust of Miss Liberty was Mrs. William Bingham of Philadelphia who was considered one of the most beautiful women of her day.
The Liberty Cap design features a bust of a young Miss Liberty, her hair flowing freely, with a staff and cap over her left shoulder. The cap represents freedom -- hats such as this were given to slaves once they became free.
Miss Liberty would need to be properly covered, according to the citizens of our enlightened nation. It is easy to imagine that McNeil might have been a little resentful about the modification chore he had to undertake.
Morgan needed a model for his Miss Liberty and found it in 18 year old, Philadelphia schoolteacher, Miss Anna Willess Williams.
Liberty Seated
The motif featuring Miss Liberty seated on a rock first used on the Gobrecht dollars of 1836-1839. This design was used on nearly all regular issue silver coinage from 1837 through 1891.
Lincoln
Synonym for a Lincoln Head cent.
Draped Bust - The design of Miss Liberty with a drape across her bust. This is attributed to Mint engraver Robert Scot, who presumably copied the design after a portrait by Gilbert Stuart.
The motif designed by Christian Gobrecht first used on the Gobrecht dollars of 1836-1839 featuring Miss Liberty seated on a rock. This design was used on nearly all regular issue silver coinage from 1837 until 1891.
For example, a vertical bagmark might be more obvious in Miss Liberty's hair than a horizontal bagmark. A horizontal bagmark would be less noticeable since it would be somewhat hidden and appear to be part of the design at first glance.
The focal figure(s) of a coin, such as Miss Liberty's head and the eagle which appear on the Morgan silver dollar.
Die -
The metal mold used to strike a coin.
Note that true Confederate half dollars have a die break between Miss Liberty's nose and the rim. Coins made from dies 1861 and later are genuine Confederate coins.
Booby Head 1839 large cent variety. Term used as early as the 1850s. Evidently Miss Liberty exhibits an idiot's or booby's expression on her face.
glossary
... dies the 1876-CC dime, for one ... spelling of half dime. The first ... size or diameter with
the ... featuring Miss Liberty seated on a rock ... and 1840-1873 for dollars ...
In the pattern from 1907 for a one-cent piece, Miss Liberty's hair is gathered at the top of her head and she wears a laurel wreath. In both the $10 issue and the 1-cent pattern, Liberty's lips are slightly parted.
The chocolate-colored rare coin, one of only nine known to exist, bears the date 1792, the inscription "Parent of Science & Indust: Liberty," and the likeness of a woman's head representing Miss Liberty.
Soft or flat hair curls of Miss Liberty or her ear, or the breast feathers of the eagle or the eagle's toe nails are examples of soft struck coins that many readers can attest to.
 See also: Liberty, Coin, Revers, Reverse, Mint
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