1878 Morgan Dollar - Reverse of 1878 - VAM-82A

Description

Discovered by twohawks in 2019, this Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar with the Reverse of 1878 is designated VAM-82A under Classification II1 10, B1c, with die pair 180. The variety documents both doubled date and stars along with a die break rim cud on the obverse, a combination that makes it particularly distinctive. The obverse displays a raised straight die break cud at the rim at the one o'clock position, described as very rare, measuring 0.0565 inches along the rim cord and 0.050 inches wide extending to the denticles. The Reverse of 1878 is distinguished from the Reverse of 1879 by the arrangement of the eagle's tail feathers, with the 1878 reverse showing a parallel top feather arrangement. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, the 1878 Morgan Dollar represents the inaugural year of George T. Morgan's Liberty Head design, mandated by the Bland-Allison Act. The very rare rim cud, combined with the doubled date and stars, places VAM-82A among the more remarkable varieties for the first-year issue. Die break cuds of this size indicate significant die deterioration where metal flowed into the gap left by the fractured die face.

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