1878 Morgan Silver Dollar - 8 Tail Feathers (8TF), Brilliant Uncirculated

This is the coin that started it all. The 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar with 8 Tail Feathers was the very first Morgan Dollar ever struck for circulation, produced at the Philadelphia Mint in the opening weeks of the most collected U.S. coin series in history.

And it almost didn't look like this.

When George T. Morgan's eagle design hit the presses, it had eight tail feathers. Letters flooded the Mint pointing out the error. The design was corrected within weeks, but not before 749,500 coins were already struck and released. Branch mint dies for San Francisco, Carson City, and New Orleans had already shipped with the corrected design, meaning every single 8 Tail Feathers Morgan Dollar in existence came from Philadelphia. There are no other mints. This is the only one.

The result is the rarest Philadelphia 1878 Morgan Dollar by mintage, fewer than one-twelfth the production of the 7 Tail Feathers issues struck the same year at the same mint.

These hand-selected BU examples have the deep frost, blast white surfaces, and sharp strikes the 8TF is known for. At MS64, this is widely recognized as the Optimal Collecting Grade for the date, the point where quality and value intersect before premiums get steep. An MS67 example sold at auction for $55,813. You won't find that grade here, but you'll find a coin that tells the whole story.

Specifications:

• Mint: Philadelphia (no mintmark) | Mintage: 749,500
• Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper | Weight: 26.73 g
• Silver content: 0.7734 troy oz | Designer: George T. Morgan
• Condition: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU), approx. MS62–MS63

Highlights:

• First Morgan Dollar design ever struck - First Reverse, 1878
• Only 749,500 minted - exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint
• BU condition: deep frost, blast white surfaces, hand-selected
• 0.7734 troy oz fine silver | Auction record: $55,813 (PCGS MS67)

Shop the 1878 Morgan Dollar category: 1878-S Morgan Silver Dollar BU | All Morgan Silver Dollars | Certified Morgan Dollars