Morgan Dime Pattern

Morgan 1879 Dime Pattern

1879 year marked an attempt to produce a new uniform design for our silver coinage for the first time since 1872. George T. Morgan modified the head of his silver dollar design and placed it on the dime, quarter and half dollar. The most noticable modification is the use of 5 leaves instead of 4 above the ribbon inscribed Liberty. He also created a new eagle design as his regular production design was criticized as being scrawny.
Unlike Barber, Morgan produced additional pattern reverses for the dime and dollar and used a miniature dollar obverse one of his half dollars. A complete set is still in the Smithsonian and the Garrett set was broken up.
This design is R-6 in both silver J1586/P1779 and copper J1587/P1780 with an estimated 12-15 known.
An obverse hub trial of just Liberty, struck in white metal, [JA1879-1/P3465] is in the Smithsonian.
JA1879-1/P3465 Below. Photo courtesy of the National Numismatic Collection of the Smithsonian Institution.

Full Coin Photos

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J1586/P1779 Silver.
Judd1587/Pollock1780 Copper.

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This design is R-6 in both silver and copper [J1589/P1782] with an estimated 12-15 known. Photo below courtesy of Superior.The illustrated example was formerly in the Harry W. Bass Jr. Research Foundation and has been slabbed PCGS68 and NGC69.
This design is R-6 in both silver and copper [J1589/P1782] with an estimated 12-15 known.
Photo below courtesy of Superior.The illustrated example was formerly in the Harry W. Bass Jr. Research Foundation and has been slabbed PCGS68 and NGC69.
Judd1588/Pollock1781 Silver below.
Judd/1589/Pollock1782 Copper below. The illustrated example is from the G.H. Wolfe collection. Photo courtesy of Heritage.

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PR67 Judd-1586 1879 Morgan Dime The Single Finest Certified Sold for: $48,875.00

This flashy and meticulously struck Superb Gem is toned ocean-blue and plum-red. Minor and slender breaks in the reverse patina are noted near 8 o'clock. The present lot is the single finest certified example of Judd-1586, with an NGC PR64 three grades behind as its closes competitor (11/07).
From The Pelican Bay Collection of Pattern Coins. (#61963)
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Brilliant 1879 Judd-1586 Dime, PR63 Cameo Morgan Silver Series Sold for: $7,475.00

1879 10C Morgan Ten Cents, Judd-1586, Pollock-1779, High R.6, PR63 Cameo PCGS. The "Morgan dime" design, with a head of Liberty similar to that on the Morgan dollar. The legend rings the rim, with date 1879 below. On the reverse, ONE DIME is enclosed, first by E PLURIBUS UNUM and 13 stars, then by a circle of beads, finally by a wreath of corn, cotton, tobacco, and wheat. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. This splendid Cameo proof has brilliant silver surfaces with fully mirrored fields around its lustrous devices. Scarcely visible hairlines limit the grade.
From The Bob Simpson Collection. (#61963)
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Resplendent 1879 Morgan Dime Pattern Judd-1586, PR65 Sold for: $10,350.00

Design. A head of Liberty that is similar to that employed on the Morgan dollar faces left on the obverse with the legend around the periphery and the date 1879 below. On the reverse, the denomination ONE DIME is enclosed first by E PLURIBUS UNUM and 13 stars, then by a circle of beads, and finally by a wreath of corn, cotton, tobacco, and wheat. Struck in silver with a reeded edge.
Commentary. For decades and many generations, collectors have commonly called this pattern the "Morgan dime," as we do here. Considered High R.6, there are currently about 15 pieces known. NGC and PCGS have combined to certify 11 submissions; each service has graded one PR67, followed by a PR65 Cameo PCGS, and two PR65 NGC pieces. Pollock described this piece as 39.2 grains with a 180 degree die alignment, but the alignment actually is about 150 degrees.
Physical Description. A pleasing, fully mirrored proof with considerable contrast, accented by faint champagne toning on both sides.
Provenance. Ex: Stack's private treaty.
From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two. (#61963)
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Full Red 'Morgan Dime' PR66, Judd-1587 Sold for: $7,475.00

1879 10C Morgan Ten Cents, Judd-1587, Pollock-1780, R.6-7, PR66 Red NGC. Morgan's Liberty Head serves the obverse with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around and the date below. The reverse has a wreath around a circle of dots that contains the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, 13 stars, and ONE DIME. Struck in copper with a reeded edge. George Morgan's head of Liberty, made famous by the regular issue silver dollar, was used in various sizes for dimes, quarters, and half dollars, in addition to silver dollar patterns. Both sides of this sharply struck piece have brilliant orange mint color with hints of iridescent toning.
Ex: Bowers and Merena (9/2001 [11/01]), lot 129. (#81964)
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Red and Brown 1879 Morgan Dime Judd-1587, PR65 Sold for: $6,900.00

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Immaculate PR67 1879 Morgan Dime Judd-1588 Sold for: $29,900.00

1879 10C Morgan Ten Cents, Judd-1588, Pollock-1781, High R.6, PR67 NGC. CAC. The same design as used on the Morgan dollar, here seen in the format of a dime. The reverse has ONE DIME in the center and is encircled by a wreath composed of six bunches of four laurel leaves each. Struck in silver with a reeded edge. Always a popular pattern because of the obverse design, it is quite a novelty to see the ubiquitous Morgan dollar design reduced to fit a coin the size of a dime. An estimated 12-15 pieces are known in both copper and silver. The brightly mirrored fields flash strongly through the rich cobalt-blue and rose toning that covers each side. An immaculate pattern. (#61588)
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Gorgeous PR66 1879 Morgan Dime Judd-1588, Struck in Silver

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Desirable 1879 Morgan Ten Cent Pattern Judd-1588, PR66

1879 10C Morgan Ten Cents, Judd-1588, Pollock-1781, High R.6, PR66 PCGS. Sold for: $14,950.00
Design. Morgan's Liberty Head serves the obverse with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around and the date below. The reverse has a laurel wreath around a circle of dots that contains the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, 13 stars, and ONE DIME. Struck in silver with a reeded edge.
Commentary. In addition to his Liberty Head design made famous by the Morgan silver dollar, the artist also created the distinctive Schoolgirl design. The year 1879 was one of great competition between Morgan and both Barbers, William and Charles. All three artists created pattern designs before the death of the elder Barber, William, on August 31, 1879.
Physical Description. A boldly detailed and highly attractive Premium Gem, this lovely piece is fully and deeply mirrored around brilliant and frosty silver devices. Both sides are essentially bright silver, with peripheral gold toning. NGC Census: 1 in PR66, 4 finer. PCGS Population: 1 in PR66, 4 finer (12/08).
Provenance. Unknown.
From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two. (#61965)
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Copper 1879 Morgan Dime Pattern Judd-1589, PR64 Red and Brown Sold for: $5,462.50

From The Bob Simpson Collection. (#71966)
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1879 'Morgan Dollar' Dime Pattern, Judd-1589 PR64 Red and Brown Sold for: $6,900.00

1879 10C Morgan Ten Cents, Judd-1589, Pollock-1782, R.7, PR64 Red and Brown PCGS. The obverse features the same portrait of Liberty as used on the Morgan dollar, here adapted to the format of a dime. The reverse has ONE DIME in the center and is encircled by a wreath composed of six bunches of four laurel leaves each. Struck in copper with a reeded edge. Always of interest to collectors, both of patterns and Morgan dollars. It is estimated that 12-15 pieces may be extant of this pattern.
The surfaces are deep cherry-red with a mixture of brown and an occasional dash of lime-green. Fully detailed, there are no obvious contact marks on either side of this popular, well-preserved piece. (#71966)
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Morgan's 1879 Dime in Copper Judd-1589, PR65 Red and Brown Sold for: $11,500.00

Design. The obverse features the same portrait of Liberty as used on the Morgan dollar, here adapted to the format of a dime. The reverse has ONE DIME in the center and is encircled by a wreath composed of six bunches of four laurel leaves each. Struck in copper with a reeded edge.
Commentary. The various patterns that feature George Morgan's head of Liberty are extremely popular with collectors and connoisseurs of both pattern coins and Morgan silver dollars. The present specimen is only the fourth example that we have offered in our auctions since 1993. Depending on the source, the existing population ranges between 10 and 15 coins. The current Judd reference rates Judd-1589 as Low R.7, with 10 to 12 known, and USPatterns.com suggests that 12 to 15 are known.
Physical Description. A few modest flyspecks on each side, along with slight mellowing of the reverse design elements, prevents a full Red designation to this boldly detailed Gem proof. NGC Census: 1 in PR65 Red and Brown, 3 finer. PCGS Population: 1 in PR65 (Red) Cameo, no others graded PR65, 1 finer (12/08).
Provenance. Ex: Stack's private treaty (12/1981).
From The Lemus Collection, Queller Family Collection Part Two. (#71966)
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[Some photos and text courtesy of USPatterns.com]
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