1878 Morgan Silver Dollar (8 Tail Feathers)

The 1878 Morgan Dollar with 8 Tail Feathers holds a unique position in American numismatics as the first-year-of-issue Morgan Dollar and the original reverse design before the Mint made a significant modification partway through production. The 8 Tail Feathers reverse represents the design as Chief Engraver William Barber first realized it, before George T. Morgan's own corrections reshaped the eagle.

Birth of an American Icon

The Morgan Dollar's creation was itself a result of political maneuvering. The Bland-Allison Act of 1878 mandated that the U.S. Treasury purchase between two and four million dollars' worth of silver each month for coinage, a concession to Western silver mining interests. George T. Morgan, a British-trained engraver who had joined the Mint the previous year, was tasked with designing the new coin.

Morgan famously used Anna Williams, a Philadelphia schoolteacher, as his model for Liberty's portrait on the obverse. His first eagle design for the reverse showed the bird with eight tail feathers.

The problem was quickly identified: an eagle typically displays an odd number of tail feathers in nature and in American numismatic tradition. Chief Engraver Barber modified the design to show seven tail feathers with a flat breast (the 7/8 Tail Feathers transitional variety) and then the final seven tail feathers with a concave breast. All three designs appear in the 1878 Philadelphia Mint production.

The Three 1878 Philadelphia Varieties

Understanding the three design states is essential for collectors:

Variety	Tail Feathers	Breast	Relative Scarcity
8 Tail Feathers	Eight	Parallel	Less common
7/8 Tail Feathers	Seven (over 8)	Flat	Scarce transitional
7 Tail Feathers	Seven	Concave	Most common

The 8 Tail Feathers variety (VAM-14 and related die pairings) has the original design in all its details. It is distinctly less common than the final 7 Tail Feathers variety, with a mintage far smaller than the full 1878-P total of approximately 10.3 million coins.

Additionally, 1878 Morgan dollars were struck at San Francisco (1878-S) and Carson City (1878-CC) with the 7 Tail Feathers design, as those branch mints received only the revised dies.

Design Details of the 8 Tail Feathers Reverse

On the 8 Tail Feathers reverse, specific features distinguish it from the later design:

• Eight tail feathers rather than seven, extending below the arrowheads

• Parallel breast feathers rather than the concave configuration of the final design

• Arrow feather details that differ slightly in their arrangement

• The overall eagle appears slightly different in proportion

Under a loupe, the tail feather count is the easiest diagnostic. On a circulated example, counting the tail feathers while examining the coin in good light remains definitive.

Proof-Like and Deep Mirror Proof-Like Variants

A notable characteristic of the 1878 8TF dollar is the frequency of Proof-Like (PL) and Deep Mirror Proof-Like (DMPL) examples. Proof-like coins display mirror-like fields (backgrounds) due to die polish, giving them an appearance similar to proof coins. DMPL examples show even more extreme reflectivity.

The 1878 8TF in MS-64 DMPL or better is genuinely rare and commands significant premiums. These examples represent some of the most visually spectacular Morgan Dollars ever produced and are eagerly sought by specialist collectors.

Condition and Values

Grade	Type	Approximate Value
MS-67	Standard	$15,000 to $40,000+
MS-66	Standard	$3,000 to $8,000
MS-65	Standard	$500 to $1,200
MS-64	Standard	$200 to $450
MS-63	Standard	$100 to $175
MS-62	Standard	$65 to $100
MS-60 to MS-61	Standard	$45 to $70
AU-58	Circulated	$55 to $90
AU-50 to AU-55	Circulated	$40 to $65
EF-45	Circulated	$40 to $60
VF-30 to EF-40	Circulated	$35 to $55
Fine to VF	Circulated	$30 to $45
MS-64 DMPL	Deep Mirror	$1,500 to $3,500
MS-65 DMPL	Deep Mirror	$6,000 to $20,000+

The USA Coin Book notes average circulated value around $142 with uncirculated examples ranging $440 to $2,539 or more. DMPL examples in gem grades are disproportionately valuable.

Strike Quality and VAM Collecting

The Morgan Dollar series supports one of the most active die variety communities in numismatics, with the Van Allen-Mallis (VAM) reference cataloging hundreds of die pairings across the series. The 1878 8TF is itself a specific designation that encompasses several VAM varieties, each with subtle distinctions in die position, polish, and state.

Dedicated VAM collectors pursue specific die pairings for their rarity and visual distinctions. For the 1878 8TF, the most widely collected variety is VAM-14, but a complete date collection of 8TF die marriages represents serious specialist territory.

Luster Types and What to Look For

Morgan Dollar luster comes in several types that affect eye appeal and value:

• Cartwheel luster: The flowing, spinning appearance of undisturbed mint luster on an Uncirculated Morgan is one of numismatics' great aesthetic pleasures. True cartwheel luster is lost with any cleaning or significant handling.

• Satin luster: Found on some late-die-state coins; a softer, less flowing appearance

• Proof-like luster: Mirror fields with frosted devices, created by fresh dies

A 1878 8TF Morgan with original cartwheel luster in MS-64 or better is a genuinely attractive coin by any measure.

Collecting the First-Year Morgan

Many collectors seek a first-year Morgan Dollar (1878-P) as a single representative piece, valuing its historical significance as the series' inaugural year. Within the 1878-P issues, the 8 Tail Feathers variety is preferred by those who want the original design intention.

A nice AU-55 or MS-62 example in a PCGS or NGC holder with the 8TF attribution makes an excellent and historically meaningful piece. For type collectors, the 8TF reverse is visually distinct from the more common 7TF reverse, making it worth the small premium for the correct attribution.

Storage and Care

Morgan Dollars are silver coins susceptible to toning. Storage in 2x2 flips or PCGS/NGC slabs protects against environmental exposure. Avoid PVC-containing plastic, which off-gasses acids that cause ugly green toning over time. Original, undisturbed toning in attractive colors (golden, russet, blue-gray) adds to a Morgan Dollar's appeal; unnatural or blotchy toning reduces it.

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