Morgan dollar question

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Jimmyv, Jun 4, 2021.

  1. Jimmyv

    Jimmyv Member

    Looking at my Morgans' today, I took a closer look at the 1878 and 1878S coins. You know, one of the years with varieties. Does the "second reverse", with the parallel top arrow feather and concave breast only apply to the 1878 ? When I compare the 2 coins, it appears that the 1878S has the same features as those on the reverse as the 1878.
    Just curious..
     
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  3. furham

    furham Good Ole Boy

    The 1878-S only comes with the "78" reverse. The 1878 can either have the "78" reverse or the "79" reverse.
     
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  4. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    Only 1878. In 1879 onward, there was only one reverse.
     
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  5. furham

    furham Good Ole Boy

    Likewise the "79"-S and "80-CC can come with the "78" reverse. Confusing huh?
     
  6. Jimmyv

    Jimmyv Member

    Thanks for clearing that up.
     
  7. furham

    furham Good Ole Boy

    That's not correct information.
     
  8. Jimmyv

    Jimmyv Member

     
  9. Jimmyv

    Jimmyv Member

    I'm confused
     
  10. furham

    furham Good Ole Boy

    Read my earlier posts.
     
  11. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    It is absolutely correct in terms of regular issue circulation strikes. The 1879s and 80cc are not NORMAL circulation issues—they are minor varieties. If you count every single Morgan variety, that would be over 600 different alternative combinations. Those are of concern to VAM and variety collectors. They are not listed as standard issues in either PCGS or NGC REGULAR issue population reports. Once again, they are varieties. 1878 has two common reverse issues that are regular reverse circulation strikes.
     
  12. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    Read my later post.^^^^^^^^^
     
  13. furham

    furham Good Ole Boy

    So you stand by this as being a true statement.
     
  14. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    Absolutely. If one counts every minor variety of Morgan dollars, you will be at over 600 varieties. If is not considered a major circulation strike by any of the TPGs, and is a VARIETY.

    Observe how many varieties exist. I am not a variety collector. I collect major circulation strikes:
    https://www.pcgs.com/pop/detail/morgan-dollar-1878-1921/744
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2021
  15. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    Definition of a full basic set of Morgan Dollars, WITHOUT varieties:
    “A complete basic set of Morgan Dollars by date and mint mark consists of 97 coins and represents a major accomplishment to complete in any grade. Some collectors spend decades assembling the series in certified coin holders or coin albums. The series is also often collected by die varieties, usually cataloged by VAM numbers (standing for Van Allen/Mallis, the authors of the main reference on the subject)”
     
  16. Jimmyv

    Jimmyv Member

    Wow, Morgans are a wonder to behold. Thanks
     
  17. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    We are both right, actually. If you consider the “fabulous 97” full regular set, then, I am correct. If you consider all the variants and varieties, then @furham is correct. Some collectors are more focused on obtaining the nicest examples of the regular strikes. Others want every VAM and variety. Morgans have something for everybody.
     
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  18. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title] Supporter

    If you want to simply break down the reverses by the 3 "major" designs (and not get into VAMs)...there are 3 reverses present on early Morgan's.

    There are as follows:
    8 Tail Feather
    7 Tail Feather, Reverse of 1878
    (parallel top arrow feather, concave breast)
    7 Tail Feather, Reverse of 1879 (slanted top arrow feather, convex breast)

    The 8 Tail Feather Reverse was only issued on 1878 (P) coins with a mintage of 750,000.

    Here is a brake down of the 7TF Issues. For coins that have multiple reverses, I have put the rarer coin in Red.

    7TF, Reverse of 1878
    1878
    1878-CC (All coins had Rev of 1878)
    1878-S (All coins had Rev of 1878)
    1879-S (estimated mintage of 500,000 of the 9.11 million 1879-S coins)
    1880-CC (estimated mintage of 125,000 of the 495,000 1880-CC coins)

    7TF, Reverse of 1879

    1878 (estimated mintage of 1.5 million of the 9.76 million 1878 7TF coins)
    1879 (All coins had Rev of 1879)
    1879-CC (All coins had Rev of 1879)
    1879-O (All coins had Rev of 1879)
    1879-S
    1880 (All coins had Rev of 1879)
    1880-CC
    1880-O (All coins had Rev of 1879)
    1880-S (All coins had Rev of 1879)

    All coins dated 1881 and later had the Reverse of 1879.
     
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  19. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    Thanks, you saved me the trouble. Now add the minor variants. :)
     
  20. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title] Supporter

    Lol. The minor variants have never interested me. I just like the stuff I can see without magnification.
     
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  21. Morgandude11

    Morgandude11 As long as it's Silver, I'm listening

    Don’t even worry about all the reverse combinations, if you’re doing the full registry set. It is only the 97 year, date, mint mark coins. Nobody doing full sets worries about that whole list—not even competitive registry sets, unless the person is getting a complete set plus variants. To do that, you would have to include all PL and DMPL dates as well. We Morgandudes worry about the famous “97.”
     
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