1878-P Morgan Silver Dollar Tail Feathers 3-pc Set F–VF

First Year 1878 Morgan Silver Dollars—A Tale of ­Three Tailfeather Varieties

“Can you people even count?!!??!”

That’s what critics likely shouted at U.S. Mint officials after the 1878-P Morgan Silver Dollar was first released. Of course, the Morgan went on to become perhaps the most widely collected vintage silver dollar ever struck in American history, but eagle-eyed collectors noted that the Bald Eagle depicted on the reverse sported eight tail feathers—even though this particular eagle should only have seven! ­The saga of the tail feather varieties used on the first-year 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar illustrates how small details can be overlooked. ­The Mint would try to rectify the problem not once, but twice resulting in not one, not two, but THREE unique collector variations!

Remarkable First-Year-Morgans

In this fine-feathered set, you’ll receive one of each first-year Morgan variety: the 8TF, 7/8TF and 7TF Morgan. Each coin was struck in highly pure 90% fine American silver and comes in nice Fine to Very Fine (F–VF) condition:

• 8 TAIL FEATHERS – After experts pointed out that eagles have an odd number of tail feathers, a design change was quickly ordered requiring new dies to be made—but not before nearly 750,000 original 8 Tail Feathers varieties were released for circulation. This design is extremely popular among collectors because it is the lowest mintage of all 1878 Morgans.
• 7/8 TAIL FEATHERS – Because there wasn’t time to discard the existing dies and wait for new ones to arrive, the mint overpunched the new 7 Tail Feathers design over the older 8 Tail Feathers dies, creating the 1878 “7 Over 8” Morgan Silver Dollar—a first-year “error” that made for a rare and beautiful Morgan.
• 7 TAIL FEATHERS – The third try was the charm and the 7 Tail Feathers variety finally got it right—the last of three reverse tail feather varieties struck during the coin’s first year. Now with an anatomically correct eagle, the design would be used throughout the rest of the series’ 28-year run.

For collectors of 90% silver Morgan Silver Dollars, the coin’s introduction in 1878 was all about the eagle’s tail feathers. What you have here is a set of all three varieties of the first year Morgan Silver Dollar struck at the Philadelphia Mint. We only have a few sets, so act fast!

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• AMERICA’S MOST POPULAR COIN – The Morgan Silver Dollar—so named for its designer, U.S. Mint Assistant Engraver George T. Morgan—has stood the test of time. Struck from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921, it was the coin of America’s “Wild West” and jingled in the coin purses of gamblers, gunfighters, soldiers, and dance hall girls.
• BIG SILVER COINS – Struck in 26.73 grams of highly pure 90% fine silver, the Morgan Silver Dollar is a big coin 38.1 mm in diameter. When this coin was plunked down on a counter, its weight meant real money, pure and simple.
• CLASSIC DESIGNS – Morgan’s historic design depicts a profile of Lady Liberty on the obverse while the reverse features an eagle with outstretched wings. The model used for Liberty was Miss Anna Williams of Philadelphia, who Morgan declared to have the most perfect feminine profile he had ever seen.
• STRUCK BY THE “MOTHER MINT” IN PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Mint is the original U.S. mint facility where the Morgan Silver Dollar was first struck. Known as the “Mother Mint,” the Philadelphia Mint’s role in striking Morgan Silver Dollars reflects its central role in American coinage history. Coins minted in Philadelphia during this period do not have a mintmark, which can make them easily identifiable.
• FINE TO VERY FINE CONDITION – The coins in your 1878-P Morgan Silver Dollar Tail Feathers Three-Piece Set will come in nice, Fine to Very Fine (F–VF) condition.
• THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING MORGAN – Despite millions of Morgan Silver Dollars being struck from 1878 to 1921, most were lost in circulation or melted down in mass silver meltings. In fact, coin experts believe that only 15% of all Morgans ever struck remain in existence today!

The total amount of Morgan Silver Dollars has seen significant evaporation into both collections and the melting pots. Don’t wait any longer; secure your 1878-P Morgan Silver Dollar Tail Feathers Three-Piece Set now!