George T. Morgan

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = George T. Morgan

| image = George T Morgan sitting.jpg

| caption = George T. Morgan

| image_size =

| office = Chief Engraver of the United States Mint

| predecessor = Charles E. Barber

| successor = John R. Sinnock

| term_start = 1917

| president =

| term_end = 1925

| birth_date = {{birth date|1845|11|24}}

| birth_place = Bilston, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1925|1|4|1845|11|24}}

| death_place = Germantown, Philadelphia, U.S.

| spouse =

| children = 3

| occupation = Engraver

}}

George Thomas Morgan (November 24, 1845 – January 4, 1925) was a United States Mint engraver who is famous for designing many popular coins, such as the Morgan dollar, the reverse of the Columbian Exposition half dollar, and the reverse of the McKinley Birthplace Memorial gold dollar.

Early life

Morgan was born in Bilston, England, and educated at an art school in the neighboring city of Birmingham, before winning a scholarship to study at the National Art Training School. After his education, he took up employment under John Pinches, where he worked between 1873-1875, as a die engraver.{{Cite web |title=George T. Morgan - Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951 |url=https://www.sculpture.gla.ac.uk/mapping/public/view/person.php?id=msib4_1202991268 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=www.sculpture.gla.ac.uk}}

Career

He came to the United States in 1876 and was hired as an assistant engraver at the Mint in October under William Barber. He figured very prominently in the production of pattern coins from 1877 onward, and designed several varieties of 1877 half dollars, the 1879 "Schoolgirl" dollar, and the 1882 "Shield Earring" coins. He became the seventh Chief Engraver of the United States Mint following the death of Charles E. Barber in February 1917.{{cite web |title=Artist George T. Morgan |work=Biography |publisher=Smithsonian American Art Museum |url=https://americanart.si.edu/artist/george-t-morgan-28414 |access-date=6 May 2023}}

Morgan is most famous for designing the Morgan dollar,{{cite book |last=Forrer |first=L. |title=Biographical Dictionary of Medallists |chapter=Morgan, George T. |publisher=Spink & Son Ltd |location=London |volume=IV |year=1909 |pages=148}} one of many namesakes, as well as the never-released $100 Gold Union coin.

File:1879S Morgan Dollar NGC MS67plus Obverse.png, designed in 1876, features an image of the Goddess of Liberty modeled by Anna Willess Williams]]

File:Albert Morgan obv.jpg, c. 1875]]

File:PhiladelphiaMintEngravers.JPG

Personal life

Morgan married Alice Louisa Pearce in 1874 and had three children, Beatrice, Leonard Pearce (1877-1961) and Phyllis (1884-?). He died on January 4, 1925, at his son-in-law's home in Germantown, Philadelphia.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-george-t-morg/133213707/ |title=George T. Morgan |date=1925-01-06 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-10}}{{Open access}}