1878 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-010

Description

Struck during the inaugural year of George T. Morgan's 90% silver dollar design, this 1878-P Morgan dollar WDDR-010 (Wexler Variety ID: 1878 $1 WDDR-010; cross-referenced as VAM 17) displays strong Class II hub doubling toward the rim. The doubling is most conspicuous on USA in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and extends to the eagle's wing feather tips, IGWT lettering, the beak and tongue, and the leaves and branches of the olive cluster — the strongest leaf spread appearing left of the knot on the lower branch. This reverse die is paired with an obverse that is itself a doubled die — Wexler WDDO-009 — making the combined pairing especially desirable. The obverse carries a short gouge inside the lower loop of the first 8 in the date, light die scratches behind Liberty's eye, polish lines in the lower hair, and polishing at the nostril. Critically, this reverse is the eight tail feathers (8TF) die — the original reverse design before the Mint shifted to seven tail feathers partway through 1878. Collectors should examine USA lettering first, then verify the 8TF eagle tail and obverse die markers to confirm this attribution.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler (Photos by Brian Allen) Cross References: VAM 17
• VAM 17; Wexler Variety ID: 1878 $1 WDDR-010
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References