Q. David Bowers
An Early Variety Study.
A pioneering study of 1878 and other early Morgan dollars, "Die Varieties of the Current United .States Standard Dollars," was conducted by George W. Rice. who published his findings in the June 1898 issue of The Numismatist.' Rice, who was active in many numismatic areas aha who at one time amassed a hoard of hundreds Of 1856 Flying Eagle cents, had the following to say about Morgan dollars:
"I have found U.S. standard dollars showing the use of two obverse and four reverse dies. I shall not attempt a-lengthy description, noting only such features as can be easily remem-bered and recognized at a glance, leaving the interested reader to study out the many minute differences.
"Obverse 1 bears the well-known large head, facing to left, with a wreath of cotton and grain; between the ears of grain at top a leaf reaches up with pointed tip turned a little to left and nearly touching the base of letter I.
"Obverse 2. The leaf between ears of grain is appreciably shorter than on die 1, with tip more rounded and-pointing to centre of base of letter I. A careful comparison will discover other differences, chiefly in the lines of the hair.
"Reverse A. The eagle grasps in his claw to right a bunch of three arrows. Observe that While the arrow heads are divergent, the feathered ends are parallel. The claw to left holds an olive branchof three leaves only. This reverse in combination with obverse 1, is the original design by Mr. Morgan, and having been accepted, the piece should take rank with U.S. dollars, even though none were subsequently struck for circulation. It exists only in Proof condition but in numbers sufficient to prevents its becoming exceedingly rare.
"Reverse B differs from A in that the olive branch is composed of three clumps of three leaves each. There are eight feathers in the spreading tail of the eagle. The arrow heads are slightly larger and the feathered ends of same a little narrower, but still parallel. I have placed this second die because in general treatment of wreath and eagle it more nearly resembles the original design than do the other dies.
"Reverse C closely copies die B, but the treatment of the entire design differs. It is all slightly contracted, the wreath more than other parts, with the leaves and berries differently arranged. The wing tips do not reach in the milling, and the A in America touches 'the edge of wing, The points of difference to be particularly noted are that there are but seven feathers drawn in the tail of the eagle and that the feathers on arrows are still arranged in parallel lines.
"Reverse D shows the whole design again, re-engraved, slightly larger than any of, the preceding dies. An attempt is made to give the feathered ends of arrows the appearance of being in line with the headsby making the upper feather wedge-shaped; considerably wider on the left than on the right. The die can be recognized at a glance by the shape of the feather. The centre leaf of the lower cluster is the longest; in dies Band C the tipper one was longest.
"The treatment of the design on this die shows it to be a copy of die C rather than of dies A and B.
"I have found the above obverses and reverses combined as follows:
"No. 1. Obverse 1 with reverse A.
"No.2. Obverse 1 with reverse B. "No.3. Obverse 1 with reverse C. "No.4. Obverse 1 with reverse D. "No.5. Obverse 2 with reverse C.
"No.6. Obverse 2 with reverse D.
"I shall conclude with a table of the issues of the mints as I have found them:
"PHILADELPHIA MINT
"1878. No. l. This mint and date only and all Proofs. "1878. No.2. This mint and date only, both Proofs and for circulation.
"1878. No.3. I have failed to fmd from this mint, but believe it exists.
"1878. No.4. "1878. No.5. "1878. No.6.
"In 1879 No.6 was issued and without variation to date, though in 1895, Proofs only, numbering less than 1,000, were struck.'
"SAN FRANCISCO MINT. "1878. No.3.
"1879. No.5.
"1879. No.6.
"No.6 only is found in all other years to date. "CARSON CITY MINT.
"1878. No.3.
"1879. I have not seen. "1880. No.5.
"1881. And all subsequent coinage, No.6 only. "NEW ORLEANS MINT.
"I have found only No.6, from 1879, the first year of coinage, to date."