1878 Morgan Dollar (7TF - Parallel Arrow, Concave Breast)

The 1878 Morgan Dollar (7TF - Parallel Arrow, Concave Breast), abbreviated PAF, was struck in 1878 and is part of the Morgan Dollar series. This coin is sometimes referred to as the "2nd Reverse" or "Reverse of 1878" of the 1878, the first being the 8 Tail Feathers and the "3rd Reverse" being the SAF variety.

Specifications

 * Designer: George T. Morgan
 * Obverse Design: Lady Liberty
 * Reverse Design: Eagle holding arrows and olive branch
 * Edge: Reeded
 * Weight: 26.73 grams
 * Diameter: 38.1 millimeters
 * Composition: Silver (90%), Copper (10%)
 * Mintage:

Background
In early 1878, silver dollars were rarely seen in circulation. This is because silver dollars had not been coined since the Seated Liberty dollar of 1873. Most silver dollars during this time had been taken out of circulation because their meltdown value had exceeded their face value. Virtually all Liberty Seated dollars were either exported or melted.

By 1878, silver dollars (the new Morgan dollar) would begin to circulate thanks to the Bland-Allison Act.

Collecting
In 1878, the Mint settled on the final design of the first-year Morgan dollar after having minted over 700 thousand of the 1878 Morgan Dollar (8 Tail Feathers) and 500,000 of the 1878 Morgan Dollar (7/8 Tail Feathers). The anatomically correct 7 Tail Feather variety would be the design moving forward for the Morgan Dollar.

This 1878 is one of two varieties for the reverse. This parallel arrow, concave breast variety (abbreviated PAF) and the slanted arrow, convex breast variety (abbreviated SAF).

Most circulation strikes have excellent detail and surface quality. Some do show weakness on the eagle's talons so keep an eye on detail. Some 1878 7 Tail Feather coins may appear to be weak but upon closer examination will reveal excellent breast feather detail.

Prooflike coins do exist in quantity for the specialist. Do pay attention to contrasting detail when picking up a prooflike as not all appear with the same quality.

Historical Background in 1878
On January 5, the Battle of Shipka Pass IV is waged between Russian and Bulgarian forces. Four battles were fought between the Russian Empire, aided by Bulgarian volunteers known as Opalchentsi, and the Ottoman Empire for control over the vital Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). The crucial moment came in August 1877, when a group of 5,000 Bulgarian and 2,500 Russian troopers repulsed an attack against the peak by the Ottoman Central army.

On January 17, at the Battle of Philippopolis, Russian troops defeat the Turks. Following the crushing Russian victory at the last battle of Shipka Pass, Russian commander Gen. Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko began to move southeast towards Constantinople. Blocking the route was the Ottoman fortress at Plovdiv under Suleiman Pasha. On January 17, 1878, a squadron of Russian dragoons led by Capt. Burago stormed the city. Its defenses were strong but superior Russian numbers overwhelmed them and the Ottoman forces retreated almost to Constantinople. At this time foreign powers intervened and Russia agreed to the Treaty of San Stefano.

On February 28, Mississippi State University is created by the Mississippi Legislature (under the name The Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi). The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area. Mississippi State, Mississippi, is the official designation for the area that encompasses the university.

Die Varieties
Many varieties are listed for the specialist.

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B1 Long Nock Reverse / 7 tailfeathers, parallel arrow feather
1878-P 7tf VAM Not Assigned Varieties
 * VAM-70 Doubled R-I-B variety.
 * VAM-79 Missing Nostril, Doubled Cotton Leaves
 * VAM-80 Doubled LIBERTY,Wheat Leaves and Grains, Disconnected Leaves
 * VAM-80A Doubled LIBERTY, Wheat Leaves, Disconnected Leaves, Die Breaks T
 * VAM-81 Polished Ear
 * VAM-82 Doubled Date & Stars
 * VAM-83 High 1
 * VAM-84 Washed Out L, Broken D
 * VAM-84A Washed Out L, Broken D, Clashed Obverse n, Reverse E & M (Super CD: Elite Clashed Morgan Dollars)
 * VAM-85 Doubled LIBERTY, Wheat Leaves & Grains, " 7 " Rev., Thread-Like Impression Wing *NEW*
 * VAM-86 Doubled LIBERTY, Wheat Leaves, & Grains, Disconnected Leaves *NEW*

B2a Reverse / Normal

 * VAM-100-1 Doubled Obverse Motto
 * VAM-100-2 Doubled Obverse Motto
 * VAM-110 Broken N and M
 * VAM-111 Dropped R
 * VAM-112 Line in B
 * VAM-112A Line in B, Clashed Obverse G
 * VAM-113 Flake on Cheek
 * VAM-114 (Re-classified 10-2011, see 114-1 and 114-2)
 * VAM-114-1 Doubled R and Stars *NEW*
 * VAM-114-2 Doubled R and Stars
 * VAM-114A Doubled R and Stars, Clashed Obverse t
 * VAM-115 Tripled Leaves & Cotton Bolls (Top 100 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-116 Doubled P & 1-8 (Hit List 40 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-116A Doubled P & 1-8, Die Gouge State 1
 * VAM-116B Doubled P & 1-8, Die Gouge State 2
 * VAM-116C Doubled P & 1-8, Die Gouge State 3
 * VAM-117 Tripled Star, Closed O in God
 * VAM-118 Shifted P
 * VAM-119 Shifted E
 * VAM-120 Doubled P
 * VAM-121 Doubled Motto
 * VAM-122 Doubled Motto and First Right Star, Alligator Eye
 * VAM-123 Doubled R and UM (Hit List 40 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-130 Normal
 * VAM-130A Die Gouge IB, Die Chip Lower Cap
 * VAM-130B Spike above eyelid, Semi-circular die gouges in wing
 * VAM-130C1 Weak Nostril
 * VAM-130C2 Die Break Above Cap
 * VAM-130C3 Die Break R
 * VAM-131 Normal (Proofs exist)
 * VAM-131A Die Chip in Hair
 * VAM-131B Die Scratch Thru RT
 * VAM-131C (Re-classified, see 131C1, 131C2, and 131C3)
 * VAM-131C1 Die Scratch Thru IB
 * VAM-131C2 Die Scratch Thru IB, Clashed Obverse n
 * VAM-131C3 Die Scratch Thru IB, Clashed Obverse n, Die Break O
 * VAM-132 Missing Nostril
 * VAM-133 Doubled Motto

B2b Reverse / Open o in God

 * VAM-140 Doubled P, Partly Open O
 * VAM-140A Doubled P, Partially Open O, Die Lines on Reverse
 * VAM-141 Tripled Star Open, O in God
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 * VAM-141A Tripled Right Star, Die Gouge Wing Tip
 * VAM-142 Doubled 878
 * VAM-142A Doubled 8-8, Tripled 7, Die Chips Top Reverse
 * VAM-143 Doubled 8
 * VAM-144 Doubled LIBERTY, Date & Left Stars & Ear
 * VAM-144A Doubled LIBERTY, Date, Left Stars & Ear, Clashed Obverse n
 * VAM-144B (Eliminated Probable Post mint damage)
 * VAM-145 Broken N and M
 * VAM-146 Line in E, R, Y

B2c Reverse / Broken r in trust

 * VAM-160 Shifted P
 * VAM-161 Shifted E
 * VAM-162 Broken N and M (Hot 50Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-163 Shifted U
 * VAM-164 Broken R
 * VAM-165 Spiked P
 * VAM-166 Spiked P
 * VAM-167 Spiked P
 * VAM-168 Doubled P
 * VAM-169 Quadrupled Stars
 * VAM-170 Double Date
 * VAM-170A Double Date, Die Chips Phrygian Cap (Hot 50 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-171 Tripled "R" (Top 100 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-185 Broken R
 * VAM-185A Spike Above Eyelid
 * VAM-185B Die Scratch Thru I and R
 * VAM-185C Die Gouge IB, Die Chip Lower Cap, Cud E
 * VAM-186 Broken R (Broken 4th right star)
 * VAM-186A Broken R, Spike Above Eyelid (Broken 4th right star)
 * VAM-186B Broken R, Very Over Polished Wing (Broken 4th right star)
 * VAM-187 Doubled "R" (Hot 50 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-188 Washed Out "L"
 * VAM-189 Added Engraved Wing Feather

B2d - Doubled Motto, B2e - Broken D, B2f - Missing Feathers, B2e - Doubled Legend

 * VAM-134 Doubled UR-BUS UNU, Reverse Legend
 * VAM-190 Doubled Motto
 * VAM-190A Missing Nostril, Doubled Motto, Clashed Obverse n
 * VAM-195 Broken D
 * VAM-195A Broken D
 * VAM-196 Doubled 878
 * VAM-196A Doubled 878, Clashed Obverse In & st
 * VAM-197 Doubled UR-BUS UNU, Missing Feather
 * VAM-198 Doubled Date (Top 100 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-199 (Eliminated, same as VAM-164 )
 * VAM-199.1 (Eliminated, same as VAM-198 )
 * VAM-199.2 Doubled P, Missing Feathers (Eliminated, became VAMs VAM-116B and VAM-116C)

C1 Reverse / Rounded Feather by Right Leg

 * VAM-200 Broken N and M, Doubled Reverse Legend Letters
 * VAM-201 Missing Nostril, Doubled Cotton Leaves & Legend Letters
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 * VAM-202 Lines in Wheat Leaves, Doubled Date & Reverse Legend
 * VAM-202A Lines in Wheat Leaves, Doubled Date, Clashed Obverse n, Reverse M
 * VAM-203 Short Wheat Leaf, Doubled Reverse Lettering (Top 100 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-203A Short Wheat Leaf, Doubled Peripheral Letters, Clashed Obv n, W, st, Rev M

C2 Reverse / Thin, Longer Feather

 * VAM-210 Line Through Y, Extra Feather
 * VAM-210A Line Through R
 * VAM-210B (Re-classified, see 210B1 and 210B2)
 * VAM-210B1 Line Through IB
 * VAM-210B2 Line Through IB, Clashed Obverse n & st
 * VAM-215 Doubled Date, Extra Feather (Proofs exist)

C3 Reverse / Squared Feather

 * VAM-220 Tripled R, Shifted Liberty Head Back, Doubled Left Reverse
 * VAM-221 (Re-classified, see 221-1 and 221-2)
 * VAM-221-1 Cut Down A, Doubled Left Reverse, Doubled Bottom of B in PLURIBUS
 * VAM-221-2 Cut Down A, Doubled Left Reverse, Polishing Line Cotton Leaf
 * VAM-221A Cut Down A, Doubled Left Reverse, Denticle Impressions Wreath Bow
 * VAM-222 Cut Down A, Doubled Left Reverse
 * VAM-222A Cut Down A, Die Chips Mouth
 * VAM-222B Cut Down A, Die Gouges Cotton Boll and Front Wheat Leaf
 * VAM-222C Spiked eye
 * VAM-222D Cut Down A, Doubled Left Reverse, Polished Lower Hair, Damaged 4th Right Star
 * VAM-223 Washed Out L, Doubled Lower Reverse
 * VAM-224 Doubled Lower Reverse, 168 Reed Count
 * VAM-225 Doubled Lower Reverse
 * VAM-225A Doubled Lower Reverse, Denticle Impressions on Reverse. (Kimpton 12 Morgan Vam)
 * VAM-226 Doubled Lower Reverse
 * VAM-226A Doubled Lower Reverse, Clashed Obverse n
 * VAM-227 (Re-classified, see 227-1 and 227-2)
 * VAM-227-1 Normal Second Obverse, Normal Third Reverse, Full 4th Right Star, Line thru O in OF
 * VAM-227-2 Normal Second Obverse, Normal Third Reverse, Die Chip on Wreath
 * VAM-228 (Re-classified, see 228-1 thru 228-6)
 * VAM-228-1 Broken 4th Right Star, Normal Third Reverse, Die Chip Eyelid
 * VAM-228-2 Broken 4th Right Star, Normal Third Reverse, X Polishing Lines Cotton Leaf, Heavy Polishing Lines in Bow
 * VAM-228-3 Broken 4th Right Star, Normal Third Reverse, X Polishing Lines Cotton Leaf, Minimal Lines in Bow
 * VAM-228-4 Broken 4th Right Star, Normal Third Reverse, Die Chip Lower Neck, Polishing Lines in "L" and "B" in LIBERTY
 * VAM-228-5 Broken 4th Right Star, Normal Third Reverse, Line T Top
 * VAM-228-6 Broken Fourth Right Star,Normal Third Reverse, Dot Above E
 * VAM-228-7 Broken 4th Right Star, Normal Third Rev. Doubled Phrygian Cap Top
 * VAM-228A Die Gouge Cotton Bolls & Front Wheat Leaf
 * VAM-228B Polishing Line Thru O in OF
 * VAM-229 Doubled Right Wreath & AMERICA
 * VAM-229-1 Doubled Top Obverse
 * VAM-230 Normal (see 230-1 and 230-2)
 * VAM-230-1 Polishing Lines by Leg
 * VAM-230-2 Die Chips Above Eye
 * VAM-230-3 Polishing Lines Under Bow
 * VAM-231 Tripled Stars, Doubled Lower Reverse
 * VAM-232 Doubled Left Stars, Doubled Left Reverse
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