In 1878 the passage of the Bland-Allison
Act caused the eventual mintage of hundreds of millions
of silver dollars. In 1878, no standard silver dollars
had been struck since the final Liberty Seated issue
of 1873. It was desired to produce a motif, rather
than resurrect the old design.
The Philadelphia Mint asked engravers
William Barber and George T. Morgan to create ideas
for a new design. After due consideration, the Morgan
motif won out.
The portrait was modeled after Miss
Anna Willess Williams, a girl of 19, who sat for
Morgan earlier, and who was depicted on several varieties
of pattern half dollars in 1877.
Issue dates: 1878-1921
Composition: 0.900 part silver, 0.100 part
copper
Diameter: 38.1 mm
Weight: 412.5 grains
Business strike mintage: 656,989,387
Proof mintage: 23,723
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