Buy Gold Bars - Learn How to Buy Gold Bars & Where?

Gold At $2,000 / ounce

Buy Gold Coins

Insured Gold Storage

Gold bullion is real, honest money and, many say, the best form of money the world has ever known. It is a store of value and a safe haven in times of crisis. Gold is rare, durable and does not wear out in the manner of lesser metals (or paper!) when passed from hand to hand. A small amount, easily carried, can purchase a significant amount of goods and services. It is universally accepted, and can be easily bought and sold around the world.  Learn about buying Insured Gold through GoldMoney.com

Information on Morgan Silver Dollars

Today, the beauty of a gold bar lies in its ability to diversify investments, protect wealth and preserve one's purchasing power.

Gold bullion is available in many different forms, a new age way to buy gold bars is to use the services of GoldMoney.com

The 10-ounce gold bullion bar of at least .995 fine purity is the standard industry unit. It is traditionally used for trading and storage. Each gold bar is hallmarked by a leading refiner to certify weight and purity, this refiner is typically an assayer of gold.

Do you have Gold or Silver jewelry or other scrap gold, silver, platinum you wish to sell?  Introducing a new website where you can sell scrap (junk) gold and silver jewelry and other items the new site:  www.BuyerOfGold.com has been introduced to provide you a confidential means to sell your gold and silver jewelry and other scrap precious metals.  Buyer of Gold .com provides the highest payouts to those seeking immediate sale of their gold today!  Not sure what you have which may be sold?  Well Buyer of Gold .com buys all sorts of gold items you want to sell.

Gold bullion bars are real, tangible assets, and throughout history, have been an ideal store of value and an excellent hedge against inflation, deflation and political uncertainty. They are extremely liquid investments, easily stored and transported, and can be a uniquely private way to preserve one's wealth.

GoldMoney.com is the industry leader and advocate of precious metals ownership, GoldMoney sets new standards for governance and customer protection, offering truly insured gold and silver!

GoldMoney.com has a proprietary system to absolutely ensure there always exists a one-to-one relationship between every single goldgram and silver ounce recorded in the INSURED GoldMoney system and the quantity of grams of pure gold and ounces of silver in the insured vaults, GoldMoney.com offers many checks and balances to insure it's customers privacy and protection.

The unique system of checks and balances between GoldMoney and its various service providers, creates a clear audit trail thus establishing and creating a reliable and trustworthy structure with essential, built-in safeguards to make certain your gold and silver are always safe and always 100% insured!  This is why we at InsuredGold.com recommend GoldMoney.com for your Gold Buying and Silver Buying.

CHECK This OUT: GoldMoney.com even has top level, World Class Insurance:

Your gold and silver are insured against theft from the vaults through a policy underwritten at Lloyd's of London.

Open a free account to start buying gold and silver >>

Chain of Integrity - A Chain of Integrity Standard has been established by GoldMoney to mitigate the risk that a bar of gold or silver in the Vault does not contain the weight of metal it is said to contain. The current GoldMoney standard provides that all forms of physical bullion in a Vault must in all respects meet the London Good Delivery Standard established by the London Bullion Market Association, www.lbma.org.uk

Guarantee - GoldMoney guarantees there is always a one-to-one ratio of goldgrams to physical grams of gold in safekeeping at the vault, this combine with the Lloyd's of London Insurance Policy GoldMoney.com holds' proves GoldMoney.com offers truly "Insured Gold" and again is why InsuredGold.com Strongly Recommends using GoldMoney.com to Buy Gold.

Copyright 2008 InsuredGold.com - All Rights Reserved.

www.BuyGoldBars.info - Is not owned nor operated by GoldMoney.com, the use of GoldMoney.com trademarks is made herein to recommend and refer persons to GoldMoney.com as InsuredGold.com the leader in Insured Gold services finds GoldMoney.com to be the most trustworthy and safest place to make your gold and silver purchases.  InsuredGold.com reserves all rights to this site.  The sale of gold items confidentially can take place by visiting www.BuyerOfGold.com click here now to sell your gold items.

Silver Eagle Dollars

Silver Eagle Dollars are issued by the United States Government.  They are typically purchased and collected by coin and bullion collectors, consumers and dealers.  The Silver Eagle Dollars are considered by most as the preferable way to “invest” in Silver Bullion, many believe these Silver Eagle Dollars maybe used in times of an emergency of banking / financial crisis as Silver Bullion “Trade Units”.

Silver Eagles have been minted every year since 1986, they are the biggest, heaviest and purest silver coins ever struck by the Government of the United States of America.  Silver Eagle Dollars are genuine and authentic issues of the United States Government.

Composition:  .999 Silver

Total Weight:  1 Troy Ounce

Typical Condition:  Uncirculated

Diameter:  40.6 mm

US Government Mints, Minting the Silver Eagle Dollars:  Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco

Some American silver eagle Dollar coin facts.

    * Designer : Adolph A. Weinman, Liberty Walking - Year 1916.

    * Designer: John M. Mercanti,  Heraldic Eagle with Shield - Year 1986.

    * Diameter: 40.60 mm.

    * Composition: Silver 99.9%.

    * Weight: 31.103 grams.

    * Thickness: 2.98 mm.

    * Edge: Reeded. (201 reeds).

Morgan Silver Dollars:

Few coins have inspired more people than the Morgan Silver Dollar. It is common knowledge the Morgan Silver Dollar is one of the most widely collected coins in the world.  

Mintmarks appear underneath the tail feathers of the bald eagle on the reverse of the coin between the letters D and O in Dollar.

Mintmarks include:

CC (Carson City Mint, Nevada)

D (Denver Mint, Colorado)

O (New Orleans Mint, Louisiana)

S (San Francisco Mint, California)

If there is no mark, blank, then it means the coin was minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Morgan Silver Dollars were the genuine, authentic issue of minting by the Government of the United States of America.  The Morgan Silver Dollar series was minted from 1878 through 1904 and then again in 1921.  From 1878 – 1904, Morgans were produced (minted) at the Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco and the famed Carson City (Nevada) Mints.   The Denver U.S. Mint produced Morgans for one year only in 1921.

The Morgan Silver Dollars from the Carson City Mint, fetch more because of their low mintage and the connection to the “Wild West” of the Carson City Mint as well as the fact the Carson City Mint was only open for a few years and had the lowest production in the US as it was the smallest US Mint.  All Morgan Silver Dollar proofs for the Morgan series were minted at Philadelphia Mint.

When you have a Morgan Silver Dollar in your hand you know you have a real coin, when you take the coin and flip it in the air you feel the power of the heavy coin, it is NOT suggested to play with or touch a good condition Morgan Silver Dollar as the oils in your hand and the accidental dropping of the coin may severely affect the nusimatic value of the coin, however, if you play with an old Morgan Silver Dollar

Physically the Morgan Silver Dollar is a large coin containing over 24 grams of Fine Silver. 

Did you know old cowboys would drop a silver dollar into their canteens to keep the water pure? They did not know about the technical properties of the silver but they sure knew it kept the water cleaner on long cattle drives.

The mass of silver found was called the Comstock Lode and it was in Nevada. This mass of silver, the largest silver strike in history, had the effect of forcing silver prices down and damaging the economy.

 

The American Government's solution was perfect. Melt down tons of silver and make them into coins. That removed much of the silver strike from circulation and kept the silver prices up.

Did you know silver is the best conductor of electricity known, even better than gold!

Amazingly there were still bags of these perfect coins in the Treasury right up until the Beatle's era of the 1960's. They survived in stunning condition and are really sought after.

Other Happenings in 1878 . . .

In 1878 John Tunstall, a Lincoln land owner and friend of John Chisom the cattle baron, was killed by a posse instructed to remove him by fair means or foul. It was the beginning the Lincoln County War where legends like Billy the Kid were made. It was also the year that the Morgan Dollar was first minted.

---------------------------------------------

In 1904 silver bullion became scarce and minting stopped.  However, in 1921 it was minted for another year, why?  It may have been due to the fact that during the First World War in, 1918, the Treasury melted down over 270 million silver dollars for their silver content.

George T. Morgan the designer and namesake of the Morgan Silver Dollar used the Nation’s Motto:  "E PLURIBUS UNUM", meaning "one nation from many people" also known as “out of many … one”

The Motto comes from Great Seal first designed by the Great Seal Committee of 1776.  

This was approved by the Continental Congress for the Great Seal. The Motto was to signify the coming together of the many colonies and the diverse cultures of America into one great, united, country.

Miss Liberty was then added to the coin and the thirteen stars to represent the 13 original colonies that had fought for independence against the British.  The Number “13” appears in and on much of the US Money from the 1700’s to current times, many people believe the number “13” to be a bad luck number, as many hotels do not have a room 13 or large buildings skip the 13^th Floor, yet the number  “13” has many historical meanings in the United States.

The Eagle on newer coins features “13” arrows and “13” Olives on the Olive Branch, however, the Morgan Silver Dollar only features 3 Arrows in the talons of the Eagle.

Miss Liberty had represented freedom to many countries throughout history. Her bold features and flowing locks, her brand of liberty for all summed up freedom.

To choose a woman for the coin was inspired.  Women's ability to give birth not only to children but to new hope and a new nation was the perfect choice.

Miss or Madame Liberty and the Statue of Liberty came to represent a new beginning to so many immigrants, who passed through Ellis Island and the first sign of the new world they saw as the Statute of Liberty.  

In 1782 the American Bald Eagle was adopted onto the National Seal as the emblem of the United States of America.  The majestic bird represented a pure form of freedom, living as it does in the remote and clean mountain tops, fearing nothing, subject to no one.  Others believe the American Bald Eagle stands for intelligence, survival and victory, as the American Bald Eagle is smart enough to fly above storms and not through them.  And the white crown which adorns the head and separates the American Bald Eagle from other Eagles, is said to symbolize a natural crown not a material crown.   It was not until 1787, the American eagle was officially adopted as the national emblem, due to legalities.

The outstretched wings of the National Emblem, The Bald Eagle, was perfect. The majestic master of the air clutches three not 13 arrows on the coin. Guess it would just look a mess with all 13.  The international peace symbol, an olive branch, is also gripped in his powerful talons.

The legend goes that the eagle was thought about as the national emblem because of a strange incident at one of the first battles of the Revolution.   The battle started at daybreak, the gunfire and the noise of the fight woke the eagles high up in their nests on the mountain tops.  They flew down to the battle and circled over the heads of the fighting men and shrieked at full voice. "They are calling for our freedom," cried the patriots as the battle raged.  Encouraged by the eagles they fought on, out-numbered by the British they won the day.

As with all US Coinage and Paper Money the Morgan Silver Dollar also includes the Nation’s “other” motto:  “IN GOD WE TRUST”.  The first United States coin to bear this national motto, “In God We Trust”, was the 1864 two-cent piece.  It first appeared on U.S. currency on the back of Florida National Bank Notes in 1863.  There was strong pressure on the treasury to add this statement to all US Money.

In God is our Trust appears in The Star-Spangled Banner which, as you all know, is the national anthem of the United States of America.   The lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key.

As a young man Francis witnessed the terrible bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, by British ships in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812.

They say just before dawn to show defiance to the British ships the shredded and holed American flag was hoisted even higher.  As dawn broke Francis was reduced to tears at the sight of the flag valiantly fluttering above.

With true inspiration he wrote these famous lyrics which eventually became the American National Anthem.

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

In God We Trust, inspired by In God is our Trust, appears between the outstretched wings of the great Eagle to finish off one of the most outstanding and most collected coins of all time.

If you have never held a Morgan Silver Dollar in your hands you are missing out on a piece of living history. Feel one, spin one, flick one into the air, listen to the sound it makes, it is brilliant. Go and buy one right now! Feel the weight and size.

And if you do buy one, get a nice worn one that has seen some life, has been through pockets and bags, saloons and banks.  One that Wyatt Earp may have bought a drink with before he went down to the O.K. Corral! Or one that Jesse James may have stolen on one of his daring robberies before his untimely death in 1882, he was 34.

It is easy to see why the Morgan Silver Dollar has become part of the American legend.

-------------------------------------------------------

The United States Government melted down more than 270 Million Morgan Silver Dollars for military needs during World War I (270,232,722 to be precise).  The fact the US Government melted (destroying) more than 270 million Morgan Silver Dollars increased dramatically the value of surviving Morgan Silver Dollars.  The rarest of Morgan Silver Dollars have sold for more than $500,000 (Half a Million Dollars) for just one single rare Morgan Silver Dollar.

Many coin collectors, professional and amateur as well as bullion investors and dealers purchase and collect Morgan Silver Dollars for the bullion value of the coins, and additionally receive additional returns due to the numismatic value of the coins themselves.  The volatile fluctuations in the precious metals market world-wide make the Morgan Silver Dollars an excellent investment and perfect “hedge” against inflation.

There continues to be a world-wide shortage of silver.  On average the global shortage of silver is approximately 6 (six) million ounces per year.  Private and government stockpiles of silver continue to dwindle in response to this huge annual deficit (shortage) in the silver needed for industry.  The U.S. Government had a silver reserve stockpile of over 2 (two) BILLION Ounces, this silver stockpile is nearly completely depleted!  The continued increased demand and the reduced supply has seen silver prices continue to skyrocket and the silver / precious metals market continues to be one of the most volatile global markets.

Continual volatility and increases in prices of the precious metals markets make every Morgan Silver Dollar more and more valuable.  By creating your own private “hoard” of Morgan Siler dollars is much more than a long-term investment.  Owning a cache of Morgan Silver Dollars, is one of the most fun

Morgan Silver Dollars are rich in History, American Heritage, and silver bullion value.

The Morgan Silver Dollar features a splendid rendering of Miss Liberty’s profile designed by designer George T. Morgan (which the coin is named for), a “M” mark appears on every Morgan Silver Dollar identifies the masterwork of George T. Morgan the Morgan Silver Dollars namesake and master designer.

Morgan Silver Dollars have NOT been minted in more than Eighty (80) years, more than Three (3) Generations, and of course have not been in circulation for nearly as long!

 Hoards of Morgan Silver Dollars:

Americans and investors world-wide have been fascinated by magnificent “Silver Cartwheels” since 1878

Desperados like Jesse James may have once stolen the very Morgan Silver Dollars you acquire.  Maybe John Dillinger “with-drew” them from his bank at gunpoint.  Whether the Morgan Silver Dollars you acquire settled someone’s debt, in Manhattan or in a card game in the Old West, paid for a drink in a saloon or were lost in a card game on a riverboat, Morgan Silver Dollars are rich with legendary experiences limited only by your imagination and love of history.

The Morgan Silver Dollar is .900 fine silver, totaling .77344 ounces of pure silver.   Due to the more than ¾ of a troy ounce of PURE Silver contained in the Morgan Silver Dollars many collectors and bullion investors have looked to hoard these magnificent coins . . . when they could acquire them.

Morgan Silver Dollars are a long term investment in America’s Heritage and History.  Morgan Silver Dollars have numismatic value and real bullion value.

Everything you have Always Wanted to Know about the Morgan Silver Dollar:

Designed by George T. Morgan, his mint mark a “M” appears on obverse at bottom of the neck, and on the reverse on the left loop of the ribbon.

Congressional Authorization:   Bland Allison Act, 1878

Designer:   George T. Morgan, Engraver for the U.S. Mint

Silver Content:   26.73 troy grams, of .900 Fine Silver (.77344 ounces Pure Silver)

Years Minted:  1878 to 1904 and again in 1921

Mint Identification Mark:  Reverse Beneath the Wreath

Issuing U.S. Mints:  Philadelphia, New Orleans, Carson City, San Francisco and Denver only in 1921

Morgan Silver Dollar(s) Collectors Vital Statistics:

OBVERSE

E. Pluribus Unum:

Under the Mint Act of 1873, this legend (unofficial motto of the United States of America), was supposed to appear on the reverse of the coin.  The error was discovered lat e in the production of the design and the error was blamed on Congress for including the change in late writing of the bill which described the Morgan Silver Dollars.

The Crown:

The crown consists of wheat, maple leaves and cotton and carries the legend “LIBERTY”, as the portrait was to be considered Madame or Miss Liberty herself.

George T. Morgan’s, “M”:

George T. Morgan, the US Mint’s Engraver who created the Morgan Silver Dollar design (both obverse and reverse), has his “mint mark” which is simply “M”, and appears on both sides of the Morgan Silver Dollar.  On the Obverse it appears on the base of the bust.

13 Stars:

These 13 Stars represent the original  13, seven (7) stars appear to the left of the date and six (6) stars to the right of the date.

The Model for the Portrait of Miss/Madame Liberty:

Morgan recruited Philadelphia school teach Anna Willess Williams to pose for the new, Morgan Silver Dollar design, engraved by George T. Morgan, this engraving is noted as special as it was the request of the US Treasury and US Congress to have Miss/Madame Liberty portrayed on the “new” Morgan Silver Dollar as only a bust, this was specifically Mint Director Henry Linderman’s direction, this was unique as the rendering of Miss Liberty’s Head only replacing the full-figured depiction of Liberty which was used on prior silver dollar designs.

REVERSE

Engraver’s Mark:

Like on the Obverse, the Morgan Silver Dollar’s designer George T. Morgan’s personal mint mark appears on the Reverse as well, here the mint mark “M” appears in the left ribbon of the bow tying the wreath.

The Eagle

Originally designed with eight (8) tail feathers, after production of Morgan Silver Dollars began the US Mint was advised the Eagle should actually have seven (7), tail feathers.  As a result of this error, some first year 1878 issues have eight (8) tail feathers, some seven (7), and some show 7 (seven) engraved OVER eight (8).

The Wreath

Laurel was used to depict the wreath surrounding the Eagle.  Ancient Greeks weaved laurel into wreaths to crown contest victors.

Olive Branch clutched in the talons of the Great American Eagle

Long a symbol of peace, the Eagle grasps an olive branch in one of its mighty talons.

Arrows clutched in the talon of the Great American Eagle

The other talon of the majestic Eagle grasps three (3) arrows, symbolizing the United States readiness for war to protect it’s values, constitution and people.  The coin having just 3 (three) arrows is unique as many coins today and post the Morgan Silver Dollar design have the Eagle of the United States grasping 13 Arrows for the 13 original colonies.

Mink Mark (mark of the US Mint which produced the Coin)

No Mint mark on the coin denotes a coin struck at the US Mint at Philadelphia.  Branch Mint marks are as follows:

CC (Carson City Mint, Nevada)

D (Denver Mint, Colorado)

O (New Orleans Mint, Louisiana)

S (San Francisco Mint, California)

If there is no mark, blank, then it means the coin was minted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

MARKET CONDITIONS

The last time silver hit $50 an ounce, China was a poor, underdeveloped nation. Now, the Chinese are rich and using three times as much silver! Will this drive the price of silver back to $50 or even higher? One thing is certain - increased demand and reduced supply have seen silver prices rise to over $20 per ounce - that’s more than triple in just three short years.

INVESTMENT

Increasing prices of precious metals makes every Morgan Silver Dollar more valuable. But acquiring your own private cache of Morgan Silver Dollars is a long term investment in so much more... in history... in American heritage... in the splendid rendering of Miss Liberty's profile by designer George T. Morgan, whose "M" mark on every Morgan Silver Dollar identifies his masterwork. And, of course, Morgan Silver Dollars have not been minted for 88 years and are no longer in circulation.

HOARDS

Americans have been fascinated by these magnificent "Silver Cartwheels" since 1878. Desperados like Jesse James may have once stolen the very silver dollars you can acquire through this limited offering. Or maybe John Dillinger "withdrew" them from his bank at gunpoint. Whether they settled someone's debt in the Old West, paid for a drink in a saloon or were lost in a card game on a river boat, they are rich with legendary experiences limited only by your imagination. Their silver content, then as today is .900 fine silver, totaling .77344 ozs. of pure silver. These are the reasons collectors have always hoarded them... when they could get them.

During the Civil Ware (1861 – 1865), coins of all sorts were horded by both the North and South, because people all over the country feared the outcome of the war.  By 1873, a massive effort at supply small coins was in full gear by the United States Government.  There were huge stockpiles of silver and Asian traders wanted precious metal for payment of goods, rather than paper money.  Any surplus silver was being minted into “Trade Dollars” for shipment to Asia.

In 1876 – 1877, two massive problems suddenly surfaced.  First, instead of exporting Trade Dollars, they were being “dumped” domestically because their legal tender vale exceeded the value of their bullion content.   The US Congress eventually rescinded the legal tender status of the “Trade Dollars” and eventually stopped minting Trade Dollars.

NOTE:  Comparison to present day of US Minted Coins legal tender Exceeding Bullion Value:

Due to increased demand in Copper in recent years the price of Copper skyrocketed, as the price of copper skyrocketed the United States Government through the Federal Reserve reacted to the continual increases in Copper price by changing the content of the U.S. Penny, in 1982, US Pennies were changed to be comprised of just 2.5% Copper and 97.5% zinc.  US Pennies minted prior to 1982, were comprised of the reverse 97.5% Copper and 2.5% zinc.  During the end of 2007, demand of Copper increased so much that the US Congress outlawed the melting of any US Coins to “reclaim” the bullion content of the coins, specifically foreign nationals were exporting US Coins as the legal tender value had exceeded the value of their bullion content, much as the situation which occurred in 1877.

In a bizarre turn of events, all the smaller coinage which had been hoarded during the Civil War began reappearing in large quantities.  This resulted in a virtual cessation of minting of all smaller US Silver Coinage for years, by order of Secretary of the Treasury John Sherman, who was appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877.  Secretary Sherman became Secretary of the Treasury after serving in the US Congress from 1855 to 1877.   The cessation of minting of smaller silver US Coins lasted for many years.

The Order issued by Secretary of the Treasury, John Sherman, was issued in October of 1877, halting the production of Trade Dollars and the impeding stoppage of smaller silver coinage soon to follow, these actions left those with silver interests in a panic.  The price of silver would surely plummet if all the US Government usage of silver in coinage were, to suddenly stop.  This is where the Morgan Silver Dollar came to the rescue.  A Missouri Representative, Richard P. Bland, (known as “Silver Dick” because of his unwavering support for silver coinage), and Iowa Senator William Allison, penned the Bland-Allison Act which was passed into law on February 28^th 1878, after the US Congress over-rode a Veto by President Rutherford B. Hayes.  The Bland-Allison Act authorized the monthly purchase of between two and four million dollars worth of silver for the minting into silver Dollars and thus the Morgan Silver Dollar was born!

Background of the 1878 Bland-Allison Act (From Wikipedia):

The five-year depression following the Silver Panic of 1873, caused cheap-money advocates (led by U.S. Representative) Richard P. Bland, a Democrat of Missouri, to join with silver-producing interests in urging a return to bimetallism, the use of both silver and gold as a monetary standard. The controversial Coinage Act of 1873 (also called the Fourth Coinage Act or Mint Act) embraced the gold standard and de-monetized silver.  Silver advocates, decrying the so-called "Crime of '73," demanded restoration of free coinage of silver at a ratio to gold of 16 to 1, approximately $1.29 an ounce.

Free coinage, as the symbol of justice for the poor, was seized upon by others determined to prevent resumption of specie payments (the redemption, in metallic coin, of U.S. paper money by banks or the Treasury) and desirous of plentiful inflationary currency.  Bland's bill for free coinage, passed by the House on 5 November 1877, jeopardized Secretary of the Treasury John Sherman's plans for resuming specie payments.  Sherman, through a Senate amendment sponsored by Senator W. B. Allison of Iowa, was able to substitute less inflationary limited purchases for free coinage.  Silver producers accepted the arrangement as likely to restore silver to $1.29.

The 1878 Bland-Allison Act, named for Representatives Bland and William B. Allison, a Republican of Iowa, was intended to subsidize the silver industry in the Mountain States and inflate prices. Under the law, the Treasury would purchase quantities of bullion valued between $2 million and $4 million per month. The silver would be purchased at market price (not at a predetermined ratio tied to the value of gold). The silver would be used to make legal tender coins at ratio of 16:1 to gold, exchangeable for $10 silver certificates. In other words, 16 ounces (one pound) of silver would be equivalent to one ounce of gold, regardless of the metals' respective market values. The president was also directed to arrange an international bimetallic conference to meet within six months.

However, the Hayes administration blunted the Act's impact: The Treasury never actually bought more than the $2 million minimum amount[citation needed] and never circulated the silver dollars. The law was replaced in 1890 by the similar Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which in turn was repealed by Congress in 1893. Gold remained the larger feature between both pieces of legislation. The term "limping bimetallism" has been used to describe this program.

Excerpt from the Curator of the United States Department of Treasury:

John Sherman (1823-1900) had enjoyed an illustrious career in Congress (1855-1877) before President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him Secretary of the Treasury in 1877. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee he had led the planning of Secretary Salmon P. Chase's National Banking System. Later, as Chairman of that committee, he oversaw national policy on the postwar banking system, dominated by the debate over the inflationary greenback. Champions of reconstruction and westward expansion wanted to continue use of the plentiful greenback while conservative financiers wanted to control inflation and use a currency backed by gold.

This matter grew complicated and became a sectional issue when Westerners advocated a currency based on both gold and the cheaper and more readily available Western silver. Although he was faced with business failures and inflation which magnified public opposition to "hard money," Secretary Sherman advocated a gold standard and built up the Nation's gold reserves. He also recommended in 1880 that sweeping changes be made in public service in order to retain valuable employees. This recommendation resulted in the Civil Service Act of 1883. At the end of Hayes' presidency, Sherman returned to the Senate where he continued his fight against currency backed by silver.

Morgan Silver Dollars:

These US Silver Dollars are called “Morgans” after the coins namesake:  the United States Government engraver George T. Morgan who designed the coins.  George T. Morgan’s initial “M” is found on both sides of the coin.  On the obverse (front) it is located where the lowest strand of Miss Liberty’s hair meets the bottom o her neck.   On the reverse (back) it appears on the left hand loop of the ribbon in the center of the wreath.  On the reverse, Morgan featured a magnificent, proud American Eagle with its wings completely spread, holding three arrows and an olive branch in its mighty talons.  A wreath with a ribbon in its center cradles the Eagle.

Morgan Silver Dollars were minted continuously from 1878 through 1904.  They were again minted in 1921.  Depending on the year, five different US Mints issued Morgans.  They include:  Philadelphia, Carson City, San Francisco, New Orleans and Denver (however, the Denver mint only minted Morgans in 1921).  There are also some different die varieties.  Sometimes, this resulted in different reveres (eagles with different numbers and/or shapes of tail feathers).  More often, dates or min-makrs overlap prior markings as is common errors with many minted coins.

In 1890, silver interests led by John Sherman convinced Congress to pass another bill guaranteeing more silver would be purchased and minted as Morgan Silver Dollars.  However, this attempted subsidy of the price of silver played a role in the great monetary crisis and depression of the early 1890’s.  Sherman’s Silver Purchase Act was repealed in 1893, by then President Grover Cleveland who forced the repeal of the Act.  As a result very few Morgan Silver Dollars were struck between 1893 and 1895.  The minting of Morgan Silver Dollars continued to use up the US Governments Silver Stockpile until Morgan Silver Dollars ceased to be produced in 1904, then 17 years lapsed before the Morgan Silver Dollar was minted for the last time in 1921.

MELTDOWNS of the Morgan Silver Dollars

World War I created a need for silver to support the war effort, especially for US Allies.  In 1918, Congress passed the Pittman Act, authorizing the meltdown of 270,232,722 of the Morgan Silver Dollars.  This increased the value of the surviving Morgan silver dollars dramatically!  Many rarities were created because no one in the US Government or elsewhere kept track of exactly which dates and in what quantities were sent to the melting pots.  In one fell swoop, large quantity mintages were virtually wiped out.   It was a provision of the Pittman Act, which authorized the final minting of Morgan Silver Dollars in 1921.

During World War II, the US Government again needed silver for the war effort.  As a result, over  53 Million Silver Dollars were sent to the melting pot by the Silver Act of 1942.  Then during the silver panic of 1979 and 1980, many millions more were melted down by silver profiteers for their bullion value.  During the 1980’s and 1990’s many values for Morgan Silve Dollars began to skyrocket.  In fact the most expensive sale of a Morgan Silver Dollar sold for more than half a million dollars ($500,000+).

Silver Cartwheels   …. definition

"E PLURIBUS UNUM", meaning "one nation from many people" also known as “out of many … one”

More information from Wikipedia

E pluribus unum, Latin for "Out of Many, One," is a motto requested by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere (originally Pierre-Eugène Ducimetière) and found in 1776 on the Seal of the United States, along with Annuit cœptis and Novus ordo seclorum, and adopted by an Act of Congress in 1782. The phrase originally came from Moretum, a poem attributed to Virgil but with the actual author unknown. In the poem text, color est e pluribus unus describes the blending of colors into one. A different account was put forward in the Discovery Channel program "Secret America". According to an interview with Priscilla Linn, Senior Curator, State Dept. Diplomacy, the phrase "Out of Many, One" came from a magazine called "The Gentleman's Magazine," published at the time of the revolution. Each year, the magazine would re-purpose one article from each of the year's 12 issues, publishing a standalone issue that was "Out of many, one".

Never codified by law, E pluribus unum was considered a de facto motto of the United States until 1956 when the United States Congress passed an act (H.J. Resolution 396), adopting In God We Trust as the official motto.[1] Seth Read of Uxbridge, Massachusetts was said to have been "instrumental" in the addition of "E Pluribus Unum" to U.S. Coins.[2] The first coins with this mint appeared as early as 1786 at Newburgh, New York.

While Annuit cœptis and Novus ordo seclorum appear on the reverse side of the great seal, E pluribus unum appears on the obverse side of the seal, the image of which is used as the national emblem of the United States, and appears on official documents such as passports. It also appears on the seal of the President and in the seals of the Vice President of the United States, of the United States Congress, of the United States House of Representatives, of the United States Senate and on the seal of the United States Supreme Court. E pluribus unum, written in capital letters, is included on most U.S. currency, with some exceptions to the letter spacing (such as the reverse of the dime). It is also embossed on the edge of the dollar coin. (See United States coinage and paper bills in circulation).

According to the U.S. Treasury, the motto E pluribus unum was first used on U.S. coinage in 1795, when the reverse of the half-eagle ($5 gold) coin presented the main features of the Great Seal of the United States. E pluribus unum is inscribed on the Great Seal's scroll. The motto was added to certain silver coins in 1798, and soon appeared on all of the coins made out of precious metals (gold and silver). In 1834, it was dropped from most of the gold coins to mark the change in the standard fineness of the coins. In 1837, it was dropped from the silver coins, marking the era of the Revised Mint Code. An Act of February 12, 1873 made the inscription a requirement of law upon the coins of the United States. E pluribus unum does appear on all coins currently being manufactured, including the Presidential dollars that started being produced in 2007, where it is inscribed on the edge along with "In God We Trust" and the year and mint mark.

After the Revolution, Rahway, New Jersey became the home of the first national mint to create a coin bearing the inscription E pluribus unum.

In a quality control error in early 2007 the Philadelphia Mint issued some one-dollar coins without this motto or "In God We Trust" on the rim; these coins have already become collectible.

Other Uses of the Motto Per Wikipedia

    * It is also the motto of the Portuguese association football club Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

    * E pluribus unum was originally written in the Moretum, a poem by Virgil, famous for the Aeneid.

    * E Pluribus Unum is a poem written by George Washington Cutter.

    * E Pluribus Unum is an album by the band Von Thronstahl.

    * E Pluribus Unum is also an album by Sandy Bull, where the artist plays all the instruments (by means of multi-track recording).

    * In the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, the Wizard, who was blown into Oz from a state fair in Kansas, never refers to the United States by name, but calls it "the land of E pluribus unum."

    * The term was also used for the integration of the minorities into the public American schools in the early 20th century.[citation needed]

    * E pluribus unum can also be found at the bottom of the Statue of Freedom's iron globe stand, located atop the United States Capitol Dome.

    * It is the name of Nigerian rapper Modenine commercial album debut.

    * Also appears at the end of a short story by Philip K. Dick, "The Impossible Planet".

    * Conspiracy theorists may link the concept of "many" becoming "one" to the supposed Illuminati's one world government plan, which was supposedly fabricated shortly after the founding of America. That it is America's motto is a subtle indicator that from America, the wealthiest and most powerful families in the Western World will unite to control the lower classes.[citation needed]

    * Unume pluribus is the motto of Wokingham Borough Council in England.

    * One of the episodes of Family Guy is entitled "E. Peterbus Unum", an obvious parody.

    * 'E Pluribus Nukem' says the Seal of the United States in the Duke Nukem additional episode 'Duke it out in D.C.' released in 1997.

    * 'E Pluribus Unicorn' is a collection of fantasy and science fiction stories by Theodore Sturgeon, published in 1953.

    * In the novel Killing Floor, by Lee Child, The codename of the anti-counterfeiting mission is E unum pluribus, or 'Out of One, Many' (though in actual Latin grammar this would have an identical meaning to the original phrase, due to the language's case system. A more correct phrase would be Ex uno plures). This is reference to the fact that dollar bills are being turned into higher denomination notes.

    * The calling card of the comic book vigilante Foolkiller (created by Steve Gerber) has the phrase 'e pluribus unum' following his name. The text on the card that followed has varied with the different individuals assuming the mantle of the Foolkiller.

    * It appears on the seal of the city of Norwalk, Connecticut.

    * "E Pluribus Wiggum" is the title of a Simpsons episode.

    * The phrase was used as part of Barack Obama's keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

    * E Pluribus Funk is Grand Funk Railroad's fifth studio album, released in November 1971.

    * The national motto of Jamaica is the equivalent phrase in English: "Out of many, one people".

    * Out of Many is the title of a series of textbooks on American History, one of which is one of the recommended textbooks by the College Board for Advanced Placement (AP) United States of America History.

    * In the Gene Simmons song, from his album Asshole, "Weapons of Mass Destruction", the line "E pluribus unum" is used as the second line of the chorus, followed by the statement, "Illusion."

    * It is the title of a 2005 electronic music album by SSI.

    * Used as a punch line in a Monty.

    * It is parodied as "E Pluribus Uranium" for a closing line in Friz Freleng's Bugs Bunny cartoon "Roman Legion Hare."

    * This phrase is used by Gussie Mausheimer in the film An American Tail. With her German accent, Gussie says "E Pluweibus Unum" instead of "E Plureibus Unum".

    * In the Pere Ubu song, Two Girls (One Bar) (from the album Why I Hate Women) David Thomas sings E pluribus unum, honey - the dust will set us free. Is that fire in your eye?

When Self Grading “raw” Morgan Silver Dollars:

FINE

Obverse:  Approximately half of the hairlines from the top of the head

VERY FINE

Obverse:  Three-quarters of the hairlines will show.  “High-points” of the bottom curls show considerable wear.

Reverse:  All feathers on the wings will show.  Feathers on Eagle’s breast are worn as well.

EXTREMELY FINE

Obverse:  Hairlines are strong and the ear is bold.  Wear will show on “High-points” around the ear.

Reverse:  Eagle’s feathers are plain, but wear shows on the breast and wing tips.

ALMOST UN-CIRCULATED

Obverse:  Trace of wear will show on the hair above the ears and high points of hair above of the forehead.

Reverse:  Trace of wear will show on the highest points of the breast and head.

 BRILLANT UNCIRCULATED [MS 60]

Obverse and Reverse:  No trace of wear, full mint luster, but may be noticeably marred by scuff marks or bag-marks and abrasions, also known as “bag-marks”, see “SPECIAL NOTES”, below for more information regarding “bag-marks”.

SELECT BRILLANT UN-CIRCULATED [MS 63 +]

Obverse and Reverse:  NO Trace of wear, full mint luster, fever noticeable “bag-marks”.

SPECIAL NOTES:  Certain issues, particularly those of the US Mints branch, often come weakly struck on the obverse above the ear and on the reverse on the Eagle’s breast. 

Allowances must be made for this when grading coins.

“Bag-marks” = are nicks, scuffs, or other contact marks a coin acquires by “COIN-to-COIN”contact in a mint or bank bag.