The 1904‑O Morgan Silver Dollar represents both the culmination of New Orleans Mint production and the twilight of the Morgan series before its long hiatus. These monochrome master studies, executed in color‑fast, fine art oil and wax based colored pencils on archival stock, strip away the distractions of luster and toning to reveal the sculptural essence of George T. Morgan’s design. The obverse presents Liberty in profile, crowned with cotton and wheat, her features modeled with classical restraint yet distinctly American character. The reverse depicts the heraldic eagle with wings outstretched, clutching arrows and olive branch, framed by the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GOD WE TRUST, and ONE DOLLAR.

The obverse study emphasizes Liberty’s serene strength, her profile defined by layered pencil strokes that capture the interplay of light across cheek, hair, and coronet. The surrounding stars and inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM are rendered with architectural clarity, while the date 1904 anchors the composition. The reverse study highlights the eagle’s commanding presence, its feathers articulated with tonal depth, the shield and olive branch balanced against the martial weight of arrows. The mirrored symmetry of wings and legend is distilled into pure form, underscoring the harmony of Morgan’s composition.

In preparing these studies, more than one coin was consulted. The reference specimen provided clarity on strike sharpness and surface separation, while other examples informed proportion, relief, and texture. This composite approach allows the drawings to transcend the limitations of any single coin, presenting the design in its most balanced and enduring form. Struck for commerce in New Orleans during the final year of Morgan production, the 1904‑O carries the satiny surfaces and subtle irregularities characteristic of the Mint’s output. The pencils capture these qualities through layered gradations, with highlights blooming gently on Liberty’s cheek and the eagle’s wings, while deeper tones settle into recesses.

As interpretive works, the studies succeed in revealing subtleties often overlooked in metal. The proportional relationship of Liberty’s portrait to the encircling stars, the sculptural rhythm of the eagle’s wings, and the balance of inscriptions all emerge with clarity. By extending the design into a medium of permanence, the drawings ensure that the artistry of the 1904‑O Morgan resonates as strongly today as it did at the dawn of the 20th century.

For the Print of the Month archive, these paired monochrome renderings of the 1904‑O Morgan Silver Dollar affirm the role of draftsmanship as scholarship. They do not merely replicate but interrogate design, offering a visual meditation on Liberty, strength, and national identity. In oil‑ and wax‑based pencil, the Morgan endures as both symbol and sculpture — a timeless witness to the close of an era at the New Orleans Mint.