Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia

Patterns
With relatively heavy coinage of trade dollars from 1873 through 1877, Mint officials had little interestin additional patterns for a silver dollar. This latter denomination had been abolished by the Coinage Act of February 1873, and there was little likelihood in 1875 that it would return despite Representative Bland's attempts to the contrary. Dollar patterns by Chief Engraver William Barber dated 1876 do exist, but these appear to be nothing more than an attempt to cover the Mint should Bland achieve success. Alternatively, they could have been made for numismatic purposes, as all were struck in very small numbers, and some varieties consist of illogical die combinations (such as the use of the long obsolete without-motto Liberty Seated dollar reverse die of the 1840-1865 style with newly-created obverse design).

Dr. Henry R. Linderman, who had been director of the Mint since 1873, was in 1876 much more interested in redesigning the minor silver coinage than worrying about the somewhat distant chance of the silver dollar returning. However, Linderman did not get along all that well with William Barber and his son, Charles, also a member of the engraving staff at Philadelphia. Both men were somewhat independent, and Dr. Linderman sometimes had difficulty getting his views across to them.

One of the director's interests was to have an annual report that would not only delineate the state of American coinage and mining, but print statistics on a world-wide basis. By the late 1890s this report would become a key reference around the world for those interested in the problems of gold and silver. In connection with his foreign correspondence, the director became acquainted with Deputy Master C.W. Fremantle of the Royal Mint in London. (The Master of the Mint in Britain was a political sinecure having nothing to do with the Mint.)

George T. Morgan
In the spring of 1876 Linderman asked Fremantle to look for a qualified English engraver who would come to America and work on redesigning the minor silver coinage, subject to direct supervision from Dr. Linderman. Fremantle suggested George T. Morgan, a 30-year old Birmingham engraver, who was well versed in all technical aspects of engraving, medals, and coin production, having been a pupil of Leonard Charles Wyon, a member of the famous Wyon family of engravers. The deputy master was personally acquainted with Morgan and gave him the strongest possible recommendation.

Fremantle's word was sufficient for Linderman, and an arrangement was soon made with Morgan. The Englishman embarked from Liverpool on board the Illinois on September 27, 1876, arriving at the port of Philadelphia 12 days later. The new engraver went directly to the Mint where he received a friendly welcome from the superintendent, James Pollock.(Pollock had served two terms as director of the Mint earlier; May 1861 to September 1866 and May 1869 to March 1873. Following the Mint Act of 1873, a new position of superintendent was created at the Philadelphia Mint, and the director's office was moved to the Treasury Department in Washington. Pollock preferred to stay in Pennsylvania; thus he left the directorship in 1873 and became superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint. )

The Barbers, father and son, were less than pleased to see Morgan and the reception was correct, but chilly. In the meantime, Fremantle had sent Linderman a number of non-Morgan English eagle designs for contemplation.

Morgan then traveled to Washington where he spent a day discussing possible designs for the silver coins with the director. Linderman favored a return to the female head of Liberty as seen on the coinage prior to 1836 and also a strong eagle on the reverse. Morgan well understood that Dr. Linderman would be looking over his shoulder at every step, controlling the exact form the new designs were to take.

Upon his return to Philadelphia, Morgan was curtly informed by Chief Engraver William Barber that there was no room in the Mint for him to work, and the modeling would have to be done elsewhere. It is true that the Mint was cramped for space in 1876, but Barber could have found room for the new engraver had it been necessary. (Linderman eventually ordered that this be done.) In the meantime Morgan did much of the work at 3727 Chestnut Street, a rooming house that was one of several places where he stayed after his arrival in America.

Morgan enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts to enrich his knowledge of American art as well as to meet others in his field. It was at about this time that he was introduced by Thomas Eakins, Philadelphia artist, to Anna Willess Williams, a local teacher.Morgan persuaded her, with some difficulty, to pose for the Liberty head that Linderman wanted for his silver coinage. According to an article in The Numismatist of May 1896, there were five sittings in November 1876. The original designs were intended for use on the half dollar. At the time, no coinage of silver dollars was contemplated.