Bidspirit auction | An 1878 United States Morgan

An 1878 United States Morgan Silver Dollar 8 Tail Feathers Variety - An 1878 Morgan silver dollar struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The obverse features a profile portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap decorated with wheat and cotton, with the headband inscribed LIBERTY. The legend E • PLURIBUS • UNUM is inscribed along the upper rim, with thirteen stars positioned along the lower edge and the date 1878 at the base. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle with outspread wings holding an olive branch and three arrows. This coin is the 8 tail feathers variety, featuring eight distinct feathers at the base of the eagle's tail. The motto In God we trust is inscribed in Gothic script above the eagle's head, surrounded by a laurel wreath and the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR. The absence of a mint mark above the DO in DOLLAR confirms production in Philadelphia. The coin is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. Weight: 0.861 ozt. The coin presents in a well-preserved state with substantial detail remaining in the higher points of the design, such as Lady Liberty's hair and the eagle's wings. Light golden and grey toning is visible across the surfaces, with more pronounced peripheral toning on the reverse (photo 2). The obverse shows scattered minor contact marks and light surface scratches in the fields and on the portrait, consistent with bag handling (photo 1). The eagle's breast feathers show minimal flattening. The reeded edge appears intact and free of significant rim nicks.