1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878 MS PL

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

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.