1878 Morgan Silver Dollar 7/8 Tail Feathers PCGS MS63

A First-Year "Error" Makes for a Rare and Beautiful Morgan!

In 1878, the first Morgans rolled into production at the Philadelphia mint, starting a series that would come to be beloved the world over. As with many first-version products, however, a design change was quickly ordered by Mint Director Henry Linderman, requiring new dies to be made. This presented an immediate problem to the U.S. Mint. Because the Bland-Allison Act required the U.S. Treasury to strike millions of silver dollars each month, they didn't have time to discard the existing dies and wait for new ones to arrive. As a result, the mint overpunched the new 7 tail-feathers design over the older 8 tail-feathers dies. This created the 1878 "7 Over 8" Morgan Silver Dollar -- a first-year "error" that made for a rare a beautiful Morgan indeed! Now, you can get your very own through GovMint.com.

The obverse of the Morgan Silver Dollar is the work of George T. Morgan, 7th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. It features a bust of Lady Liberty facing left, stars circling her head, along with the inscriptions of "LIBERTY," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and the date 1878. But, the real intrigue of this coin is on its reverse. The 7/8 tail-feather design features an American bald eagle rising with outstretched wings as it clutches an olive branch and arrows in its talons. Look close, and you can see that there are actually two layers of tail feathers in this version, seven feathers laid over eight. The reverse's inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "ONE DOLLAR," and an archaic-lettered "IN GOD WE TRUST." With a grade of MS63 assigned by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) your Morgan is in mint, uncirculated condition with very few marks -- tail feathers included. These rare coins will not last long, so add one to your collection while you still can!