Morgan dollar Reverses
The
Morgan dollar, known by its designer, George T. Morgan, was minted from 1878 to 1904, and then again in 1921. In that time four major reverse styles were adopted, and the table below illustrates differences between these styles. These reverses appear as types A, B, C and D in Van Allen and Mallis' Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan &
Peace dollars, with substyles denoted numerically, and that is also the notation used here.
There are a number of major features that differ between the reverses. For instance, the first
Morgan dollars minted in 1878 had an eagle on the reverse with 8 tail feathers, but before the year was out the style was changed to 7 tail feathers. Differences in the eagle's breast, the spacing of "In" (of "In God We Trust") with respect to the eagle's wing, the top arrow feather and the size of the stars differ between the reverses, as shown below.
Reverse A was the first reverse type, used on Philadelphia-minted 1878 coins only, and is most noted for an eagle with 8 tail feathers. Reverse B was used on some 1878-P, all San Francisco-minted 1878's, and the 1878 Carson City issue. It was also used on some 1879-S and 1880-CC issues. Reverse B has 7 tail feathers, a parallel top arrow feather and a flat eagle's breast. Reverse C was used on some 1878-P, 1879-S and 1880-CC issues, as well as all other coins from 1879 to 1904. Reverse C has 7 tail feathers, a slanted top arrow feather, and a rounded eagle's breast. The final reverse, D, was used only on issues of 1921. It returns once again to the style of a parallel top arrow feather and flat eagle's breast.
1878, 8 Tail Feathers
Reverse A
PCGS MS63 1878, Reverse of '78
Reverse B
PCGS MS64 1878, Reverse of '79
Reverse C
PCGS MS63 1921
Reverse D
NGC MS65
Number of Tail Feathers
Top Arrow Feather
Spacing of "In" of "In God We Trust"
Eagle's Beak
Star
Spacing of "A" of "AMERICA"
Eagle's Breast
It is worth noting that, in order to save time in production of dies, an A reverse hub was engraved with the B reverse, but some of the design of the A reverse still remained. This B/A reverse is known as the 7/8 tail feather variety with some of the 8 tail feathers visible of the A reverse underneath the 7 tail feathers of the B reverse. The number of tail feathers that are visible can differ - the images below show 4 and 7 tail feathers respectively.
References
Van Allen, Leroy C. and A. George Mallis. Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan &
Peace dollars, 4th ed. Worldwide Ventures, Inc. 1991
Posted 02/06/2011 5:26 pm
