1878 Morgan Dollar - Reverse of 1878 - VAM-117

Description

1878-P VAM-117 Tripled Star, Closed O in GOD Discovered by Leroy Van Allen, December 1965. Revised 2010. This coin is a Top 100 Morgan VAM This coin is a Top 30 1878 Variety 117 (revised) II/I 19-B2k (Triple Star) (194) Obverse II/I 19- Doubled LIBERTY shifted right. Doubled E, P, and R in E PLURIBUS. Doubled 2, 3, and 4 stars on left and doubled 1-5 stars on right (number 2 is tripled and is one of the best examples of a tripled star). Incomplete band in cap. Front eye doubled and front eyelid tripled. Doubled mouth, upper chin and right inside of ear. Tops of cotton leaves doubled. P in PLURIBUS strongly doubled. 1 in date is doubled on left side of stem. First 8 doubled at top inside of upper loop and bottom inside of lower loop. Second 8 doubled at bottom outside of lower loop. Key identifier- Alligator eye. Obverse also used for 1878-P VAM-141 Reverse B2k- Thin vertical bar with fine lines on surface engraved between eagle's right wing and leg. Vertical bars with fine lines on surface between eagle's right wing and body and one diagonal die gouge. Die over polished with missing feathers in middle of wings. Date position (DPIS): In 1878 dates were part of the master die so there is no variation in position. Notes: The VAM-117 variety has an incredibly Tripled Star, the second one to the right of the date. The underlying star can be seen rotated clockwise several degrees. Amazing! The VAM-141 has a broken O in GOD on the reverse. VAM-117 has the O complete without a break at the top. Although the Top 100 book claims they are both equally available and valuable, time has proven the 117 to be much more elusive and worth an even bigger premium. If you are buying a 117, check it closely as some coins slabbed 117 actually have a broken O that can only be seen by close inspection an tilting the coin under good light. VAM-117 also is polished away on the eagles right side.

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