1878 Morgan Silver Dollar. 8 Tailfeathers. JD-1, VAM-14.8. Rarity-4+.

1878 Morgan Silver Dollar. 8 Tailfeathers. JD-1, VAM-14.8. Rarity-4+. Spiked Eye. Proof-63 (PCGS). Glassy fields support lightly frosted motifs on both sides of this undeniable Proof specimen. The entire package is dressed in delicate iridescent silver toning that yields to warmer reddish-gold here and there at the borders. Fully struck with each individual feather on the eagle's breast and hair strand over Liberty's ear crisply delineated. Among Proof Morgan dollars, few pieces are as desired as that of 1878 with 8 Tailfeathers, representing the first style of the design, and thus very distinctive. The mintage is not known with certainty, but is estimated at 300 pieces (per John W. Dannreuther, 2025), reasonable enough, as examples are elusive today. Although a distribution of 300 coins would indicate that specimens would come on the market with some frequency, this is simply not true. For some reason, examples are rarer than they should be, perhaps calling into question the estimate. Whatever the situation, today the Proof 1878 8 Tailfeathers is indeed rare, and examples, when seen, usually come on the market one at a time, and at widely spaced intervals. Four die pairings are known for this Proof issue, suggesting multiple striking periods. VAM-14.8, offered here, and VAM-14.3 both also exist in circulation strike format. The former is most readily attributable by the presence of a tiny die line protruding from Liberty's lower eyelid on the obverse and minor doubling to the leaves at the end of the olive branch on the reverse. PCGS# 7311. NGC ID: 2572. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.

Estimate:$1

View all items fromStack's BowersorCoins & Banknotes