1879-S $1 VAM 42, Rev. of 1878 TOP 100 MS(PCGS#133863)

June 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

4024

Grade

MS64

Price

2,684

Lot Description

Intense frosty to modestly semi-prooflike luster is seen on both sides of this smartly impressed example. Attractively toned, as well, we note dominant golden iridescence that warms to orange-russet at the borders. First publicized during the 1960s, the Reverse of 1878 is the scarcer hub variety of the otherwise plentiful 1879-S Morgan dollar. Apparently, these coins were struck from leftover reverse dies from the 1878-S silver dollar issue. The mintage of this hub variety was not reported separately. Q. David Bowers (2019) provides an estimate of 600,000 coins struck based on the number of die pairs believed to have been used. Even if more than that number were struck, most were obviously melted since Mint State examples are scarce to rare in all grades by Morgan dollar standards.