Apologies for the length of the post...
Finding the idea of collecting the whole series of
Morgan dollars to be too pricey, I think I've settled on a goal of completing a short set that I'm calling a "type and mintmark" set. Whereas a "date and mintmark" set would include each date and each mintmark of each such date, the set I'm thinking of would include each major type (not VAMs) and then one example of each mintmark that was applied to such type. I think this will result in about 12 coins, which I will house in a blank
Morgan dollars Dansco page to be included at the front of my
Peace dollars album.
However, I'm looking to the wisdom of fellow board members to fully define the members of the set, as well as understand some vocabulary used in connection with
Morgan dollars. As I understand (and please correct any misunderstandings I have below), Morgans have the following types:
1) Eight Tailfeather Reverse - To my knowledge, the only member of this type is the 1878 minted at Philadelphia.
2) Eight over Seven Tailfeather Reverse - Again, to my knowledge, the only member of this type is the 1878 minted at Philadelphia.
3) Seven Tailfeather Reverse of 1878 - I believe
RedBook refers to this one as the "Second Reverse." The 1878 minted in Philly is a member of this set, as are an 1879S and an 1880CC. [I think the answer is that 1878CC and 1878S are the Reverse of 1878/Second Reverse]
4) Seven Tailfeather Reverse of 1879 - I believe
RedBook refers to this one as the "Third Reverse." The 1878 minted in Philly is a member of this set. Do the 1878CC and 1878S fall into this type, or are they both Reverse of 1878/Second Type? [Again, I think the answer is that 1878CC and 1878S are the Reverse of 1878/Second Reverse]
5) 1921 Type - I'm not sure what the difference is, but I've read the 1921 Morgans can be considered a different type.
Additional questions to those above:
* Are there any coins minted 1879 and later, other than a 1879S and 1880CC, that have the Reverse of 1878/Second Reverse? [I think the answer is no]
* Do all coins minted 1880 and later, other than the 1880CC and the 1921's, have the Reverse of 1879/Third Reverse? [I think the answer is yes]
* Are there other significant Morgan types I'm missing in the list above? Again, I'm not looking to collect the universe of eleventy billion just the major types. [I think the answer is no]
Based on what I think the answers to my questions are, I think my set will include the "bookends" of the Morgan Series: 1878 8TF, 1878 8TF/7TF, 1878 Rev '78, 1878 Rev '79, 1878CC, 1878S, 1921, 1921D, and 1921S, which is nine coins. That would mean my set would include the following:
1) Eight Tailfeather Reverse: 1878.
2) Eight over Seven Tailfeather Reverse: 1878.
3) Seven Tailfeather Reverse of 1878: 1878, 1878CC, 1878S.
4) Seven Tailfeather Reverse of 1879: 1878, plus an example from each of Carson City, New Orleans, and San Francisco. This may be where I have some freedom to choose a few years other than 1878 and 1921 to add some variety to the set. Maybe one represeting each of the 1880's, 1890's, and 1900's, so that each decade of the Morgan series is represented in the short set in addition to the bookends. This approach looks to be cheapest if I get a CC from 1880's (1882, 1883 or 1884), an S for the 1890's (1890, 1891, or 1898), and an O for the 1900's (1900, 1901, 1902, or 1904). Any suggestions?
5) 1921 Type: 1921, 1921D, 1921S.
Total coins = 12. A tailor-made short set for a single 12-port blank
Morgan dollar Dansco page, provided my assumptions above are correct.
Regards,
Brian
Posted 11/26/2012 4:29 pm
