The historical production of Morgan dollars officially ceased in 1921, marking the final year they were minted before a modern reintroduction as collectibles. Prior to this, the coin's initial, continuous production run had stopped in 1904.
The Original Production Halt: 1904
The first significant halt in the minting of the Morgan dollar occurred after the year 1904. These iconic United States dollar coins were initially produced from 1878 to 1904. The cessation of production at this time was primarily due to the exhaustion of silver bullion reserves that were mandated for coinage under the Bland-Allison Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.
The Brief Revival and Final Historical Stop: 1921
Despite the halt in 1904, the Morgan dollar saw a brief, unexpected return to production in 1921. This single year of minting was largely due to the Pittman Act of 1918, which authorized the melting and recoining of millions of silver dollars. After this 1921 production, the design was replaced by the Peace dollar, making 1921 the last year of the Morgan dollar's original, historical minting before its modern reintroduction.
Modern Collectible Reissues: Beginning in 2021
While 1921 was the last year of their traditional production, Morgan dollars began being minted again in 2021. These modern issues are produced specifically as collectible items, not for general circulation, commemorating the coin's rich history and enduring popularity among numismatists.
Here's a summary of the Morgan dollar's production periods:
Production Period | Type of Minting | Key Event/Reason for Stop |
---|---|---|
1878 – 1904 | Original Series | Exhaustion of silver reserves |
1921 | Revival | Replaced by the Peace dollar |
2021 – Present | Collectible | Modern commemorative reissues |
Therefore, while the initial run ended in 1904, the definitive last year of historical Morgan dollar production was 1921.