1890-O Morgan Silver Dollar New Orleans Mint
The 1890-O Morgan Silver Dollar is a classic late-19th-century specimen from the historic New Orleans Mint. This year holds a special place in numismatic history due to the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, which forced the US government to drastically increase its silver purchases. This led to a massive production spike, resulting in over 10.7 million Morgan dollars struck at the New Orleans facility alone.
Despite the high mintage, the 1890-O is notorious for "weak strikes." Because the mint was rushing to meet the new legal requirements, the dies were often spaced too far apart or used beyond their prime, leading to "flat" details on the eagle's breast feathers and Liberty's hair.