Q. David Bowers
B. Max Mehl's sale of the P .H. Griffith Collection, March 20, 1912. Griffith was a mintmark specialist, and acquired numerous scarce varieties. The notation that the 1878-S has 7 tail feathers was common during this era, for the main catalogue used by collectors was still Scott's 1893 effort (quoted earlier here), which listed the non-existent 1878-S 8 tail feathers. Thus, collectors had both varieties of 1878- S dollars on their want lists.
The key 1895 Proof dollar, which earlier had sold in the $5 to $6 or so range in some sales, fell off its price perch.
1878 8 TF. Proof $1.85.
1878 7 TF. VG $1.25.
1878-CC 7 TF. CC distant from wreath. VF $2.10.
1878-CC 7 TF. CC close to wreath. About Fine $1.20.
1878-S 7 TF. About Unc. $1.15.
1879 Br. Proof $1.25.
1879-CC VF $2.10.
1879-O VG $1.10.
1879-S Unc, Br. mint lustre. $2.10.
1880 Br. Proof $1.25.
1880-CC EF $3.60.
1880-O Fine $ 1.15.
1880-S Large S. VG, near Fine $1.15.
1880-S Small S. EF. $1.15.
1881 Br. Proof $1.10.
1881-CC Fine $4.00.
1881-O VF $1.75.
1881-S EF, near Vne. $1.15.
1882 Proof $1.10.
1882-CC Unc., bright semi-proof surface. $8.90.
1882-O VG $1.15.
1882-S VF $1.10.
1883 Br. Proof $1.10.
1883-CC Fine to VF $1.15.
1883-O VG $1.15.
1883-S Fine $1.15.
1884-CC VG $5.25.
1884-O About Fine $1.30.
1884 Br. Proof $2.15.
1884-S Fine $1.10.
1885-CC VG $11.75.
1885-O About Fine $1.15.
1885 Proof $1.15.
1885-S EF, near Unc. $1.10.
1886 Br. Proof $1.15.
1886-O VG $1.15.
1886-S VG $3.75.
1887 Proof $1.10.
1887-O Fine $1.10.
1887-S VF $1.10.
1888 Br. Proof $1.40.
1888-O VG $1.10.
1888-S VG $1.25.
1889 Proof $1.30.
1889-CC Fine $1.60.
1889-O VF $1.20.
1889-S Fine $3.10.
1890 Br. Proof $1.35.
1890-CC Unc., mint lustre. $2.40.
1890-O EF $1.15.
1890-S VG to-Fine $1.30.
1891 Br. Proof $1.30.
1891-CC Fine $1.25.
1891-O Fine $1.10.
1891-S EF $1.25.
1892 Br. Proof $1.15.
1892-CC About Fine $1.15.
1892-O Fine $1.10.
1892-S Fine $1.10.
1893 VG $1.25.
1893-CC Fine $1.40.
1893-O VG $1.30.
1893-S About Fine $2.15.
1894 Proof $1.20.
1894-S VF $1.10.
1894-O Fine $1.15.
1895 Br. Proof $2.25.
1895-O VG $1.15.
1895-S VG $1.10.
1896 Proof $1.30.
1896-O High O. Fine $1.25.
1896-O Low O. VG $1.10.
1896-S VG $1.10.
1897 Proof $1.35.
1897-S About Fine $1.15.
1897-S EF. $1.25.
1898 Proof $1.35.
1898-O Nicked on obverse. VG $1.25.
1898-S Fine $1.10.
1899 Proof $1.25.
1899-O Fine $1.15.
1899-S Fine $1.10.
1900 Br. Proof $1.35.
1900-O VF $1.10.
1900-S VF $1.10. 1901 Proof $1.40.
1901-O About Fine $1.10.
1901-S Fine $1.10.
1902 Proof $1.10.
1902-O VG $1.20.
1902-S Fine $1.25.
1903 Proof $1.10.
1903-O Unc, $4.20.
1903-O Unc. $1.80.
1903-S Small S close to wreath. Fine $1.30.
1903-S. Large S in center between wreath and DO. About Unc. $1.15.
1904 Unc. $1.25.
1904-S EF. $1.25.