The profile featured on many historic U.S. silver dollars depicts George T. Morgan, the designer of the coin. His design, selected in 1878, portrays a stylized Liberty head, often mistaken for a specific individual, rather than a symbolic representation. The reverse features a heraldic eagle with arrows and an olive branch.
The design’s selection marked a departure from previous depictions of Liberty and signified a renewed emphasis on American silver production following the Bland-Allison Act of 1878. These “Morgan dollars,” as they are commonly known, were minted in large quantities until 1904, and again briefly in 1921. They remain highly collectible and represent a significant chapter in American numismatics, reflecting both artistic trends and economic policy of the era.