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1878 SILVER DOLLAR -
7 Tail Feathers
Reverse of 1879
PCGS
Nos: 7076, 7077, 97077, 7313
Mintage:
Circulation strikes: estimated 4,300,000
Proofs: estimated 50
Designer: George T. Morgan
Diameter: 38.1 millimeters
Metal Content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%
Weight: 26.73 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None (for
Philadelphia)
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Images courtesy of Heritage
Numismatic Auctions
The January 2000 "FUN" Sale, Lot 7012, PCGS MS-65
Notes:
After using up the 8 Tail Feathers and 7/8 Tail Feathers dies, the
Mint finally settled down to the anatomically correct 7 Tail Feathers
version. However, two additional problems required a fix.
One was the eagle's breast, which appeared unnaturally flat on the
earliest 1878 Morgan Dollars. The other was the top fletch in the
bundle of arrows on the reverse; early versions had a parallel fletch
that was out of perspective with the way the arrows were aligned.
These two problems were fixed on the
reverse dies used in the final part of 1878 - the eagle's breast became
rounded and the top fletch was slanted. The dies became known as the
"Reverse of 1879" to differentiate them from earlier ones. Thus, the 1878 7 Tail Feathers
can be found with either a
Reverse of 1878 or a Reverse of 1879!
The most common Uncirculated grade for this variety is MS-63, followed by
MS-62 and MS-64 (which are of about equal rarity). Gems and Prooflikes are
rare. The finest examples graded by PCGS are six MS-66s, a single MS-66 Prooflike, and three MS-65 Deep Mirror Prooflikes.
Proofs of this variety are extremely rare, with an estimated mintage of
only 50 pieces. PCGS has examined only 10 of the
Proofs and, of those, the finest examples graded by PCGS are only two
PR-64s and one PR-64 Cameo!
Recent appearances:
NGC MS-65. Ex - Superior Galleries' "The ANA 2001 National
Money Show Auction", March 8-9, 2001, Lot 358, "Rev. of 79",
sold for $603.75
NGC MS-64 Deep Prooflike. Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries'
"The Lake Geneva Sale", June 28-29, 2001, Lot 1023, not
illustrated, not sold
NGC MS-64. Ex - Heritage
Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May
31-June 2, 2001, Lot 6340, not illustrated, sold for $258.75
PCGS MS-63 Prooflike. Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s
"Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 6341, not
illustrated, sold for $258.75
MS-63 Prooflike. Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins &
Collectibles, Inc.'s "The California Sale", October 2-3, 2000,
Lot 1786, "7 Tail Feathers, Second Reverse", sold for $115.00
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
"The PCGS Population Report, April 2003" by The
Professional Coin Grading Service
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