Q. David Bowers
Linderman noted in a private letter to Pollock that, although the patterns had "gone off like hotcakes" among the Treasury officials, those by Morgan had been the better received. Several key congressmen obtained dollar patterns. As a result the mintage for these was considerable, at least in relative terms. Morgan made three slightly different versions of each of two styles of obverse and reverse, for a total of six different original 1878 pattern silver dollar designs. Even influential collectors, such as R. Coulton Davis, were able to get specimens.(Davis is one of the most misunderstood numismatists of the past century. It has been fashionable the past few years to denigrate Davis, proprietor of a Philadelphia drug store, for gaining "influence" over Mint officials by illegally supplying them with narcotics. These rumors, which seem to be a repetition of similar rumors circulated by jealous fellow collectors in the last century, have no basis in reality. The druggist, even if he did sell opiates, did so quite legally as such practices were common in this era, before the dangers were fully realized. Mild narcotics were often prescribed by doctors for pain; modern medicines had not yet been developed and there was little else for the common person to do. Davis was the first major specialist in patterns and related items, publishing a serial list of them in the 1880s. Many of his extremely rare or even unique pieces must have come from James Ross Snowden, most likely as a reward for blowing the whistle on the 1804 Class II silver dollar buyers.) No one doubted that a silver dollar would be struck. It was merely a matter of when, not if.
Both Morgan and Barber refined their artwork during the remaining days of December but Morgan again worked under a handicap. Barber made it difficult for Morgan to use the Hill Reducing Machine, claiming a rush of important work. Morgan was forced to complain once again to Linderman, this time through Pollock, and the impediment was quickly removed. This proved a second strike against Barber and, so far as Linderman was concerned, Morgan now had a clear inside track.
Events of Early 1878
In early January 1878 the director privately informed Morgan that he was to visit A. Loudon Snowden, the Philadelphia postmaster, to discuss his models for the dollars and what "improvements" might be made. This seems an odd person to consult until it is realized that Snowden, a nephew of former director James Ross Snowden, had been chief coiner of the Mint from 1866 to 1876 and was considered one of the most knowledgeable men in his field. Linderman and Snowden were close friends, and the latter could be counted on to keep this arrangement secret. The fact that the director sent Morgan to Snowden is a clear indication that the design choice had already been made.
Morgan was not only working on the new dollar patterns, but he was also busy with the Hayes medal and the gold designs. It was getting close to the time that gold would once again be used in daily life. Linderman wanted to be ready for this metal also. The Hayes medal was a matter of prestige for Linderman, who wished to impress the chief executive with the quality of work done at the Mint.
When Morgan first visited Snowden in mid: January 1878, there was a lengthy discussion of the finer points in the design. In particular Snowden "advised" Morgan to remodel the eagle's head as it looked more like "a snake" than anything else. In addition the eagle's wings were too close together at the bottom. Even though he now had access to the Mint, Morgan still made most of the necessary alterations in his rooming house so that the Barbers would not know precisely what was being done. Morgan also personally supervised the intricate work on the Hill Reducing Machine for the same reason.
In a second visit not long after the first, Snowden again critiqued the plaster models with great care. (He was in constant communication with Linderman on the progress of the models; so was Morgan, but on a different level of discussion.) This time Morgan was asked to reduce the length of wings and also to change the arrowheads. Snowden thought that the latter looked more like tripods and needed refinement. It was also thought that three leaves on the stem looked better than some other number. Morgan, of course, agreed with all these changes. He had little choice.
By January 28 Morgan had completed the latest corrections "suggested" by Snowden and again brought plasters for inspection. This time there were fresh criticisms, but mostly of a minor nature. Morgan was able to comply with the new ideas by simply reworking the plasters. On January 30 Morgan was able to complete a reverse hub exhibiting the changes asked for by Snowden (i.e., Linderman).
The director now ordered that the latest Morgan and Barber efforts be made into working dies so that a fair test could be made of both designs on the coining press rather than by the special screw press normally used for such work. On February 7 and again two days later, Linderman urged Morgan to greater speed as he wished to display the patterns. at the upcoming meeting of the United States Assay Commission.
After looking at the latest pattern by Morgan, Linderman informed Snowden and Morgan that fresh changes were required. By February 22 Morgan was working on these latest corrections. Barber was virtually ignored.
Morgan's Design Chosen
On February 28 Morgan held his last important meeting on the dollar pattern with A.L. Snowden. Snowden still had minor objections, but time was running out for major changes, and he decided to allow the design to stand without further alteration. By coincidence, it was on this day that Congress passed the Bland-Allison Act, saw it vetoed by the president, and then overrode the veto two hours later. As soon as the legislative dust had settled, the director dashed off a letter to Pollock informing him that Morgan's design had been chosen.
(Technically, the secretary of the Treasury, John Sherman, would have chosen the new design, but we can be certain that Linderman had laid the groundwork well to make certain that the proper work was picked. In fact, Sherman may have made his choice by mid: January, when Linderman brought Snowden into the picture.)
Pollock was further informed that the design decision was to be kept secret from all but Morgan. Snowden had of course been informed privately, the same day as Pollock. As it turned out, the secret was kept for only a day or two! Linderman wanted the dies as soon as possible, and Morgan spared no effort to please the director. By the first week of March Morgan virtually monopolized the die-makingroom.
It was about this time that one of the more bizarre incidents came about in connection with the Morgan dollar; Someone informed the Treasury Department that the design as chosen by Linderman was illegal as the mottoes were on the wrong side. The director then read the 1873 legislation and discovered that for the past several months he had indeed been ignoring the law. Linderman suggested placing the matter in the hands of an impartial individual well versed in the Mint and the law: A. Loudon Snowden I
Snowden, after due thought, informed the Treasury that the design was quite acceptable. It seems that when the Mint Act of 1873 was first being discussed in committee, the original draft did not specify precise placement of legends. Congress, however, had changed this at the last minute. Snowden felt that the error was really that of Congress, and the coin should be used as designed! On this incredible argument, coinage did indeed go forward. (In 1882, Treasury Secretary Folger discovered a like mistake in the models for the new Liberty Head nickel and demanded that the law be followed in terms of legend placement. Snowden, who was now superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint, tried the same arguments as had worked in 1878, but Folger cut him off and ordered compliance with the law. The models were changed at once.)