1878 Morgan Dollar - Reverse of 1878 - VAM-120

Description

Among the most distinctive aspects of the 1878 Morgan Dollar is its existence with multiple reverse hub types — a consequence of the Mint's mid-year redesign of George T. Morgan's eagle. This listing pairs VAM-120 with the Reverse of 1878, the original reverse configuration that preceded the revised hub adopted for 1879 onward. Collectors differentiate the two reverses by examining tail feather arrangement and other subtle design elements, and the distinction affects both attribution and market value. VAM-120, discovered by Guy Messing in December 1973, is classified as 120 II/I 31 B2a with a doubled P as its defining characteristic. The bottom serifs of the P in PLURIBUS exhibit doubling, accompanied by displaced metal on the R of PLURIBUS and the right side of U in UNUM. Stars on the obverse show doubling across the left side and the first three on the right, consistent with a Type II LIBERTY designation. Known ANACS-certified examples include one at AU50 and one at EF45. The Reverse of 1878 pairing gives this entry a different provenance context than its Reverse of 1879 counterpart, reflecting the complex die logistics of the series' inaugural year.

External References