1878 P Morgan Dollar VAM-85 New Discovery! New B1 Reverse!

It's like this: If they're all the same obverse, and if the die cracks are the conclusive evidence of die progression, then the 8TF did not come first.

Before I even *start* thinking more about this, I need full-face images of the V86 obverse.

In a very real sense, the only "amazing" part of all this is that they managed it at all. Prior to 1878, the Mint had only produced as many as a million Dollar-size coins in one year twice, and at that the largest single run was 1.1 million. They were then tasked with producing two million Dollars per month. It had to be sheer insanity at the Mint in March and April 1878, especially considering the design was being changed in midstream and the dies were not lasting as long as desired.

Like I said, it's not hard to imagine three or four different die types being in presses simultaneously.

The thing that *is* hard to imagine is that one single obverse die having a life so productive as to be a part of 4 (or even more) different VAMs. Especially when these were all produced essentially simultaneously. While also having the time to become "overpolished" (as is seen in V22) as well.

This simply doesn't pass the "fishy test" for me, intellectually, yet any alternative is even less-plausible. The cracks show a progression - they were obviously in the die. It's vanishingly-unlikely that identical cracks in two or more dies could appear.

Yeah, maybe stranger things have happened, but this one's near the top of the list.

Just stopping in to let everyone know that this outstanding coin has crossed over to a PCGS MS64DM and is now the Top Pop 1/0. I acquired it through a series of trades and it is now in my PCGS 7TF registry set.

I have Re-Read this Awesome Topic,

From The First Post to the End. Where has the 1878-P B-1 Reverse Come.

Since The 1965 LVA soft cover books Last listing was for the VAM 84, if I recall, Where I am asking, Where is The Set Now 2024, VAM - 86, 86A?


The enthusiasm shown in THIS topic is Remarkable and Just , After reading the Vam-85 has changed hands, I Also see More were found and A VAM -86 Was DISCOVERED Too.


Maybe some one could update the status of The 1878-P B-1 Reverse, as far as the Known to date Found VAM 85's, etc, thanks, MD

Makecents, I Could NOT stop reading the Thread, The Passion and Forensics Here are Mind Boggling to me.13-14 years AGO....

I am Very much interested in " Where the B-1 Reverse Sets have gone "..


Hope to get a Modern Day Vammer's Input, Where the Set has Evolved to and Where Might it Go.....I know This site has Earned its Kudos, I Appreciate ANY input, Thanks....