Q. David Bowers
• Morgan's own pattern 1878 silver dollars, made early in 1878 from multiple obverse and reverse dies (J-1550 to 1553, with additional die varieties of J-1550), all have seven tail feathers.
• As noted, I have been able to find no contemporary public or numismatic complaint about the wrong number of feathers in the eagle's tail, and, in any event, seven tail feathers is no more accurate a number than eight; in nature on an actual bird, both are wrong.
I therefore conclude that 1878 eight tail feathers dies and dollars were made, but when the change was made to seven tail feathers, it involved much more than changing the feather count (other topological features were altered as well), and, in any event, no one cared in 1878 how many feathers the eagle had. The record shows that George T. Morgan preferred seven feathers from the outset.
Arrow feathers: There is more "fuss and feathers," or, more accurately, "fuss about feathers," but concerning feathers other than those in the eagle's tail. Now, attention is turned to the feathers in the arrows; specifically the highest feather in the topmost arrow below the eagle.
First Reverse: The so-called First Reverse is the 8 tail feathers variety. In addition, the topmost visible arrow feather on the left side of the coin is parallel to the arrow shaft.
Second Reverse: The Second Reverse is of the 7 tail feathers variety and also has a parallel top arrow feather. The breast of the eagle is depressed on the coin, or slightly concave.
Third Reverse: The Third Reverse (and all later reverses) is of the 7 tail feathers variety, with slanted top arrow feather, and with a rounded or convex breast on the eagle.
Putting it all together, here are the main varieties among 1878 Philadelphia Mint Morgan silver dollars:
1. 1878 First Reverse with eight tail feathers and concave breast.
2. 1878 7 over other tail feathers, traditionally but wrongly called "7 over 8 tail feathers" (more about this in the next section).
3. 1878 Second Reverse with seven tail feathers, parallel top arrow feather (abbreviated PAF), and concave breast.
4. 1878 Third Reverse with seven tail feathers, slanting top arrow feather (abbreviated SAF), and convex breast.
The present entry in this text concerns the 1878 with First Reverse, having eight tail feathers and concave breast. The other varieties are treated later. The year 1878 in the Morgan dollar series can be a study in itself. The 3rd edition of the Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan & Peace Dollars, by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis, devotes many pages to the idiosyncrasies of dollars of this date.
Hoard coins: Morgan dollars with eight tail feathers were released in quantity in 1878 and in the immediately following years, and never were rare. Apparently, relatively few coins filtered out of Treasury holdings during the 1930s and early 1940s. By the late 1940s the issue was relatively scarce, and Mint State specimens commonly fetched in the $5.00 to $7.50 range. In 1953, a number of bags came on the market, probably from storage at the Philadelphia Mint, but I have been unable to locate where these were first released. The number must have been few; at least, not many went into the hands of dealers. From that point through the early 1960s, additional bags were released. Many came out in Las Vegas in the early 1960s; Harry J. Forman bought several bags at the time.
While Treasury hoard coins distributed over a period of time provided the supply of pieces we now enjoy, I am not aware of any mint-sealed bags currently in existence.
Circulated grades: This issue is moderately scarce in worn grades and is not among the most common issues in the series.
Mint State grades: Examples seen are usually quite well struck and have very frosty surfaces. In all Mint State grades the 1878 8 TF variety is rarer than the 7 TF, but the difference is not dramatic. Most specimens are in lower Uncirculated levels from MS-60 through 62. MS-63 coins are somewhat scarce, but tens of thousands exist, and acquiring one will not be a problem. MS-64 pieces are scarcer, with only about 5,000 to 10,000 estimated to survive. True MS-65 or better coins are very hard to find. I believe that only about 1,000 to 2,000 remain-certainly a small number in view of the great demand for them.
Prooflike coins: Many 1878 8 TF dollars are prooflike (PL) on obverse only. These are often with cameo devices set against mirror fields and are very attractive. Two-sided prooflikes are rarer. Totally, probably 3;000 to 3,000 PL coins exist, the vast majority of which are below MS-65. Deep mirror prooflike (DMPL) coins two or more times scarcer than PLs -possibly with a population of 1,500 to 3,000 - again with the majority below MS-65. The two-sided DMPL pieces are usually not cameo and show little contrast between the. devices ami the fields.
Proofs: The first Proof 1878 8 TF dollars amounted to 100 coins delivered on March 12, 1878. These were made in a large room called the Arts and, Medals Department, a separate facility from the production coinage area. (The initial Morgan dollars struck, VAM-9, were business strikes, but on polished planchets, made from non-Proof dies in the production coinage.area and were not Proofs; one of these went to President Hayes, as noted earlier.) A.communication from the Mint, dated April 11, 1878, noted that Proof dollars were available for $1.50 each in paper money (or $1.25 in silver coin).
Probably 300 to 500 1878 8 TF Proof dollars were minted. The number is not known, and estimates have ranged from about 250 upward. Today,' Proofs are rare. In 1982 Wayne Miller wrote that during the previous 15 years.he had seen only 30 pieces.
Pattern issue (to watch for among-Proofs; this is a pattern.as noted, nota regular issue): Bluntbeak. Breen-5499; Judd-1552. Pattern similar to the adopted issue but without Morgan's initial M on wreath bow. Only three struck February 25, 1878:, for Director Lindenman's approval; approved on March Ist, One of these was found in 1992 bya silver dollar specialist who bought it as a regular Proof 1878 8 TF. I have never seen one, nor has Pete R. Bishal who has studied 1878 coins very carefully for a long period of years.
Varieties
Business strikes:
1. Blunt beak (I in IN touches wing). Normal: Breen-5500, about 20 minor die varieties. Word LIBERTY is thinner on headband than on following.
2. Blunt beak (I in IN touches wing). Doubled obverse die: Breen-5501, VAM-15-17. Word LIBERTY is thicker on headband than on following and is very slightly doubled, most noticeable to the left side of the letters.
3-4. Pointed Beak (over blunt beak). Normal obverse: Breen-5502; doubled obverse die, Breen-5503. All pointed beak reverses show doubling, the new hub impressed after one blow from the old: pointed over blunt beak. Word liberty thin in headband.
Note: The aforementioned Van Allen-Mallis book is highly recommended, for precise differentiation of
1878 dollar varieties.
Proofs:
1. Blunt beak (I in IN touches wing). Normal: Breen-5500. On March 12, 15 and 18, 100 Proofs were delivered on each day; these were probably the 8 TF type. Most were VAM-14-3. On March 26, 200 more, possibly mostly 7 tail feathers PAFs (below). All were offered for $1.50 in currency (or $1.25 if paid for in silver coin) each plus postage.