During the lapse in production of one dollar silver coins Trade Dollars were used in commercial transactions. The coinage law of 1873 did not set a standard for weight and fineness of the standard silver dollar. Morgan Silver Dollars were authorized by the Bland-Allison Act of February 1878. Weight (26.73 grams) and fineness (.900) for the Silver Dollar was to conform with the Act of January 18, 1837. Composition .900 silver, .100 copper (net weight .77344 oz. pure silver); diameter 38.1 mm; reeded edge. Designed by George T. Morgan (hence the name Morgan Silver Dollar) who was a pupil of William Wyon of the London Royal Mint. Morgan’s initial “M” can be found in two places: on the obverse at the truncation of Liberty’s neck, and on the reverse on the left loop of the tied ribbon. The Morgan Silver Dollar was produced from 1878 – 1921. Production occurred at the Philadelphia Mint, New Orleans Mint, Carson City Mint, and in the last year of production (1921), the Denver Mint. Production was halted after 1904 because of low demand and over 270,000,000 Silver Dollars were melted as per the Pittman Act of 1918. Morgan Silver Dollar coinage was resumed in 1921 until the Peace Dollar design was adopted and begun in December of that year.