1878-S $2.50 XF45 PCGS号7829

Ron Guth

Most (perhaps all) examples of this date utilize a New Reverse ("Hub of 1859-1907").  In fact, 1876-S or 1877-S may be the last apeparance of the Old Reverse style, so please report any Old Reverse examples.

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David Akers (1975/88)

The 1878-S has by far the highest mintage of any S Mint quarter eagle, and it is certainly the most common as well. However, it is less often seen in choice uncircualted condition than the 1877-S. The 1878-S uses the reverse that was first used at the Philadelphia Mint in 1859. This reverse is distinguished from that used on the early San Francisco Mint quarter eagles (prior to 1877) by the smaller letters and modified claws, arrows, olive branch and wings. The mintmark is very small, as it is on the 1877-S, and since mintmarks were punched in by hand, there are a number of different known mintmark positions.