Morgan Dollar Reverses

There are a number of major features that differ between the reverses. For instance, the first Morgan dollars minted in 1878 had an eagle on the reverse with 8 tail feathers, but before the year was out the style was changed to 7 tail feathers. Differences in the eagle's breast, the spacing of "In" (of "In God We Trust") with respect to the eagle's wing, the top arrow feather and the size of the stars differ between the reverses, as shown below.

Reverse A was the first reverse type, used on Philadelphia-minted 1878 coins only, and is most noted for an eagle with 8 tail feathers. Reverse B was used on some 1878-P, all San Francisco-minted 1878's, and the 1878 Carson City issue. It was also used on some 1879-S and 1880-CC issues. Reverse B has 7 tail feathers, a parallel top arrow feather and a flat eagle's breast. Reverse C was used on some 1878-P, 1879-S and 1880-CC issues, as well as all other coins from 1879 to 1904. Reverse C has 7 tail feathers, a slanted top arrow feather, and a rounded eagle's breast. The final reverse, D, was used only on issues of 1921. It returns once again to the style of a parallel top arrow feather and flat eagle's breast.

	1878, 8 Tail Feathers Reverse A PCGS MS63	1878, Reverse of '78 Reverse B PCGS MS64	1878, Reverse of '79 Reverse C PCGS MS63	1921 Reverse D NGC MS65
Number of Tail Feathers
Top Arrow Feather
Spacing of "In" of "In God We Trust"
Eagle's Beak
Star
Spacing of "A" of "AMERICA"
Eagle's Breast

It is worth noting that, in order to save time in production of dies, an A reverse hub was engraved with the B reverse, but some of the design of the A reverse still remained. This B/A reverse is known as the 7/8 tail feather variety with some of the 8 tail feathers visible of the A reverse underneath the 7 tail feathers of the B reverse. The number of tail feathers that are visible can differ - the images below show 4 and 7 tail feathers respectively.

VAM 36 - 4 tail feathers ANACS MS61 PL
VAM 42 - 7 tail feathers PCI MS62

References