1878-S $1 MS63 认证号50722193, PCGS号7082

Q. David Bowers

The following narrative, with minor editing, is from my "Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia" (Wolfeboro, NH: Bowers and Merena Galleries, Inc., 1993).

Coinage Context

The silver market in San Francisco: London was the primary market for gold and silver in the 1860s and 1870s. The discovery of the Comstock Lode deposits in Nevada 1859 and their consequent exploitation in the 1860s brought much investment capital from England to Nevada, just as the British would invest over $100 million in the Cripple Creek District gold mines in the 1890s

On the open market, the San Francisco price for silver bullion was less than in London, for about 2% had to be added for transport by sea from California to England.
In San Francisco and throughout California and Nevada there were dozens of banks, assayers, and others who took in silver bullion, refined it, and paid out ingots and bars. Typically, such refiners would charge from about 2% for large quantities, to 5% or 6% for small amounts. In contrast, the San Francisco Mint levied a charge of 1.5% for metal delivered to it. Thus, over a period of time the mint became the main depository for silver metal.

Dies and collars for Morgan dollars arrived at the San Francisco Mint on the evening of April 16, 1878.

The initial striking of Morgan dollars took place at 3:30 in the afternoon of April 17. In attendance were representatives of the press, former governor F.F. Low, mint officers, and others. The first specimen was presented to coiner Cicott, who acted as master of ceremonies for the event. After nearly 1,000 coins were struck, one of the dies broke, the press was stopped, and further coinage was suspended until the following day. (Per an account in the New Alta California, April IS, 1878, quoted by Van Allen and Mallis, p. 91, from a copy in the California State Library.)

Numismatic Information

Hoard coins: It is believed that as of June 30, 1913, the majority of the original mintage of 1878-S (probably five to six million coins out of a total of 9,774,000), and nearly all of the original mintages of 1879-S, 1880-S, 1881-S, and 1882-S were stored at the San Francisco Mint, to be paid out over a period of decades thereafter. Especially large quantities were released in the early 1950s-so many that 1878- S was one of the most often seen Mint State Morgan dollars for years afterward. Many bags were also distributed later in the 1950s and especially during the 1962-1964 dispersal. In The Forecaster, September 15, 1971, John Kamin gave his opinion that about 7% of the original mintage of 1878-S was released circa 1962-1964, a figure equal to about 600,000 coins.

Harry J. Forman bought 10 bags from Phil Carlino; they probably came to Las Vegas by truck directly from the San Francisco Mint or the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank (to which depot many silver dollars were transferred in the late 1930s, when the old San Francisco Mint operations were transferred to a new facility on Duboce St.). This date was said to represent the fourth largest single holding of Morgan silver dollars in the Redfield hoard.' One estimate placed the Redfield quantity at 5,000 coins and noted that the coins were in lower Mint State grade ranges.

By 1982, Wayne Miller considered the 1878-S to be the least available of the early San Francisco Morgan dollar issues 1878-1882 in Mint State. However, earlier this was not the case, and he recalled a January 1964 advertisement to buy all Uncirculated silver dollars with the exceptions of the following, which at the time were considered to be the most common: 1878-S Morgan, 1921 Morgan, 1922 Peace, and 1923 Peace. Wayne Miller went on to suggest that as 1878-S dollars were once common, many investors and numismatists turned them back to hanks. While this may have been true for many 1878-S dollars, I believe that most Uncirculated pieces released in. the late 1950s and early 1960 8 still exist but are located outside of numismatic circles. Most 1878-S dollars are "old hoard" (i.e., pre-1962) coins, whereas S-Mint coins of 1879-1882 are "new hoard" coins in many instances, and overshadow the 1878-S.

Reverse type: All 1878-S dollars, like all 1878-CC dollars, are of the Second Reverse type with 7 tail feathers, parallel arrow feather, and concave eagle breast. All but three of the 56 varieties listed by VAM have a short nock (shaft) to the arrow; the exceptions are VAM-26, 27, and 56 with long nock. All have a small mintmark.

The mysterious "1878-S 8 TF dollar: In 1893, the leading publisher of popular. numismatic references was J.W. Scott & Co., who in that year issued Scott's Catalogue of Gold and Silver Coins. Until well into the twentieth century, this was the only widely circulated reference book (not including the premium guides sold by Mehl, et al.) listing varieties of United States coins together with their numismatic values. Among the Morgan dollars listed by Scott were the 1878-S with 8 tail feathers priced at $2.50 Uncirculated, and the 1878-S with 7 tail feathers priced at $2.00. Accordingly, collectors had every reason to believe that 1878-S 8 TF dollars existed and were slightly scarcer than those of the 7 TF variety. What they didn't know was that the Scott Catalogue was a botched-up, poorly researched piece of work, and the 1878-58 TF never did exist. By the time that dies were shipped to San Francisco, the 7 TF variety was standard (however, it is quite possible that some 8 TF reverses were still being used in Philadelphia; use of dies was not necessarily in the order that they Were made; new dies were made to the 7 TF standard, however). Because of the Scott listing, the 1878-S 8 TF dollar appeared on collectors' want lists for the next half century.

Circulated grades: The 1878-S TF (as are all) is common in worn grades, but not as common as the mintage indicates, for relatively few were released into circulation until well into the twentieth century. Most worn 1878-S dollars are in higher grades, from VF upward.

Mint State grades: The most often seen S-Mint dollars in high grades are those from 1878-S through 1882-S, of which this is the first in the lineup.

Quantities of 1878-S Morgans remain in all Mint State grades. Most are in the lower ranges of MS-60 through 62 or 63. MS-64 coins are much fewer, but still enough exist that on an absolute basis they are common. The same goes for MS-65. My population estimates follow: MS-60 to 62, 600,000 to 1,000,000; MS-63, 100,000 to 160,000; MS-64, 40,000 to 80,000; and MS-65 or better, 12,000 to 20,000. Most examples are well struck with excellent lustre. Many coins are very heavily bagmarked.

Prooflike coins: Prooflikes are common, and probably at least 15,000 to 30,000 exist, of which about 10% are better than MS-65 PL. Most have fairly low contrast between the fields and devices, and many are prooflike only on one side, DMPL coins are about five times rarer than regular prooflikes, with about 10% better than MS-65 DMPL.

Varieties

Business strikes:

ALL WITH 7 TF REVERSE:

1. Long nock (arrow shaft): Breen-5517, VAM-26, 27, and 56. Very rare. All seen are in low grades.

Discovered circa 1977. Struck beginning April 18, 1878, from the only two usable reverses; of 10 pairs of dies shipped April 8, 1878, three obverses and eight reverses were condemned by the coiner as unusable. This reverse has more significance than just another VAM variety. In time, it may have great value. Presently, only a few specialists seek it. As is true of many Morgan dollar varieties, when the 3rd edition of the Van Allen-Mallis book achieves wide distribution, collector desire for VAM-26, 26, and 56 will undoubtedly escalate sharply.

2. Short nock: Breen-5518. At least 53 varieties from at least 36 pairs of dies shipped in June. Gems and prooflikes are common, mostly one-sided; sliders more so, thanks to the Redfield hoard. Highfill estimates prooflikes as 20 times less often seen than regular Uncirculateds, and eight to 10 times more often seen than DMPLs.

Dies prepared: Obverse: 46+; Reverse: 46+; 43+ obverse and 38+ reverse dies actually used.

Business strike mintage: 9,774,000

Estimated quantity melted: Unknown, but probably several million under terms of the 1915 Pittman Act.

Availability of prooflike coins: Prooflikes are common and usually have low contrast; DMPL coins are available but are scarcer.

Characteristics of striking: Usually well struck. Known hoards of Mint State coins: Very large quantities were released by the Treasury Department in the 1950s and, especially, in the 1962-1964 years.

Commentary

The 1878-S is a popular and plentiful early San Francisco Mint Morgan dollar. Alleged Proofs offered by B. Max Mehl in the Nygren and Griffith sales (11/30/14 and 2/29/16) and advertised by William & L. Pukall (Numismatist, 10/53) have hot been traced and were probably DMPLs.