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Morgan dollars from 1879 boast one of two reverses: the Reverse of 1878 (flatter breast and flat feather atop the arrows) or the Reverse of 1879 (rounder breast and slanted feather atop the arrows). While the 1879-S Reverse of 1879 was made later in the year and much more common, the holdover Reverse of 1878 is a scarce coin in all grades and rare in the MS levels. Examples grading MS65 or better are extremely rare, with PLs and DMPLs among the toughest of any to be found in the Morgan dollar series.
Obverse Description
Portrait of Liberty centered. On the left are found 7 stars with the words E*PLURIBUS*UNUM followed by 6 stars on the right. The date is positioned at the bottom.
Reverse Description
The heraldic eagle is centered holding a bunch of arrows and branch surrounded by and olive leaves. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * ONE DOLLAR frame the periphery. Mint mark, if any, appears above the letters DO of DOLLAR.
Book Reference
Key to Collecting: The 1879-S comes in two varieties; the Reverse of 1878, with flat eagle’s breast and parallel top arrow feathers, is quite elusive, and the variety with Reverse of 1879, discussed in the next section of this book, is very common. The former, very rare variety was hardly known even to the most active dealers and collectors until recent decades. Amaz-Detail of 1879-S (PAF). ingly, it was found that even well-worn pieces were very rare.
Surface Quality: Usually seen well struck. However, as with all dollars of the 7 Tail Feathers, Reverse of 1878 variety, the eagle can appear to be weak, due to the flat breast. However, the individual feathers in the breast are usually well struck. Usually seen with attractive, frosty luster. Some have areas of die polish interrupting the frost.
Prooflike Coins: Semi-prooflike coins are seen with frequency in the context of the variety. Prooflike coins exist but are in the distinct minority. DMPL coins are very rare.
Mintage and Distribution: A handful of leftover reverses, shipped to San Francisco in 1878, created this coinage. No records exist as to mintage quantities, but 600,000 or so is my guess, simply because a half dozen or more die pairs were used. However, if even 100,000 were minted, most must have been melted under the Pittman Act, for not many exist today! Few ever went into circulation, and not many were in the Treasury releases of later years. The Redfield hoard (1976) is said to have contained 3,000 Mint State, but mostly bagmarked.12 This is the only quantity rumored or reported to the author.13
VARIETIES:
Coins of the 7 Tail Feathers, Reverse of 1878 variety often have minor retouching on the wing feathers of the eagle, a curiosity also seen on the 1878-S, but nowhere else in the series.
Catalog Information
GSID:
7457
Designer:
George T. Morgan
Obverse Designer:
George T. Morgan
Obverse Lettering:
E PLURIBUS UNUM, LIBERTY, 1879
Reverse Designer:
George T. Morgan
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GOD WE TRUST, ONE DOLLAR
Fineness:
0.9
Weight (gr):
26.73 gr
Weight (oz):
0.8594 oz
Precious Metal Weight:
0.7734 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
38.1
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Reeded
Variety:
Reverse of 1878
Coin Date:
1879-S
Denomination:
$1
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
San Francisco
Mint Mark:
S
Mintage:
9,110,000
Coinage Type:
Morgan silver dollar
Coinage Years:
1878-1921
Composition:
90% silver; 10% copper
PCGS #:
7094
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Coin Value History
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 MS
Value By Grade
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 MS
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS66 |
|
$57,500 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $48,000 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG2 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG2 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS [Type]
![Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ProductImages/DLRC/194xxx/a15b3867-56c4-4feb-9ccd-68ae7da30226.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $41 – $80,000
Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS PL [Type]
![Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS PL [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/90o-pl-obv.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $50 – $7,800
Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS DMPL [Type]
![Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS DMPL [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/84cc-dmpl-obv.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $75 – $42,000
Morgan $1 Carson City Mint MS [Type]
![Morgan $1 Carson City Mint MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ProductImages/DLRC/416xxx/e90065e0-537f-4db8-b2b8-efacd6817cff.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $70 – $50,000
Morgan $1 Carson City Mint, GSA Hoard Hard package MS [Type]
![Morgan $1 Carson City Mint, GSA Hoard Hard package MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/CatalogEntry/ha_com_1314_4280-3.20200626010427369.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $270 – $5,400
1878 8TF $1 MS
Worth: $40 – $102,000
1878 8TF $1 MS PL
Worth: $200 – $4,400
1878 8TF $1 MS DMPL
Worth: $575 – $27,000
1878 7TF $1 Reverse of 1878 MS
Worth: $41 – $3,200
1878 7TF $1 Reverse of 1878 MS PL
Worth: $72 – $6,600
1878 7TF $1 Reverse of 1878 MS DMPL
Worth: $240 – $42,000
1878 7/8TF $1 Strong MS
Worth: $45 – $26,400
1878 7/8TF $1 Strong MS PL
Worth: $200 – $9,900
1878 7/8TF $1 Strong MS DMPL
Worth: $425 – $30,000
1878 7/8TF $1 Weak MS
Worth: $41 – $3,200
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 MS62 CACG. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$641
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 AU55 PCGS. CDN: $200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$220
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 AU50 PCGS. CDN: $170.60 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$195
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, VAM-34B, VF35 PCGS. A Top 100 Variety. PCGS Population: 4 in 35, 9 finer (11/25). Mintage 9,110,...
$1,464
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 -- Cleaned -- ANACS Details. MS60 Details. A Top 100 Variety. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$293
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, MS61 ANACS. A Top 100 Variety. Mintage 9,110,000....
$561
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 AU58 CACG. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$276
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, MS63 PCGS. Housed in a Generation 3.1 green label holder. CDN: $1,050 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS M...
$1,080
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 AU53 PCGS. CDN: $160 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$169
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 MS65 PCGS. A wisp of almond-gold toning graces the dazzling surfaces of this intricately struck M...
$5,280
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, VAM-9, MS64 PCGS....
$2,880
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 XF40 PCGS. PCGS Population: (67/4921). Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$154
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 XF45 PCGS. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$110
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 VF30 PCGS. PCGS Population: (31/4867). Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$85
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 VF20 PCGS. PCGS Population: (14/4844). NGC Census: (10/2623). CDN: $92 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF...
$75
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, VAM-56, Fine 12 PCGS. A Top 100 Variety. PCGS Population: (5/11 and 0/0+). NGC Census: (0/0 and ...
$1,440
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 Poor 1 PCGS. PCGS Population: (4/4908 and 0/88+). NGC Census: (0/2607 and 0/25+). Mintage 9,110,...
$1,440
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, VAM-23, Top 100, VF25 PCGS. PCGS Population: (4/36). NGC Census: (0/0). CDN: $141 Whsle. Bid for...
$144
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, VAM 77, VG10 PCGS. Top 100 Variety. PCGS Population: (3/17). NGC Census: (0/0)....
$810
1879-S $1 PCGS F15 (Reverse of 1878 VAM-34A)
$110
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