The Looking Glass Collection
1878 7/8TF

Owner Comments:

Nicely frosted devices with deeply mirrored fields portray this popular 1878 7/8 TF variety Morgan. This coin is a VAM 36 showing a normal type 2 obverse with no apparent die breaks or doubling except for 7 in date slightly doubled on right side(hub effect). The reverse shows four tail feather ends between the 2 and 3TF and under 3,4, and 5 TF. Design remains in leaves of branch, below branch on left, and around wreath bow. Die chips around D,W,E, and U of IN GOD WE TRUST.
A number of reverse dies were modified by impressing the newer seven eagle's tail feather design over the original eight tail feather design.This was done to save die preparation time, but many of these die varities show some of the original eight tail feathers tips below the seven tail feathers. Only those varities with four to seven tips showing command the price premium of the 7/8 tail feathers with VAM 41 being the most prominent one. VAM'S 31 and 43 with doubled legs command a modest premium. The scarest 7/8 variety is the VAM 44 with only about twenty specimans known. It commands a substantial premium. Vam's 32 and 45 are also fairly scarce. This is the flat breast variety. Bought from David Lowrance Coins October 2005. PCGS Population reports 31 in MS64 DMPL with only 2 higher in MS65. Total DMPL 1878 7/8 strong tail feather population as of 10/05 in all grades is 114.