Numismatic

1879-S Morgan Dollar Rev of 78 AU

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The year 1879 brought a subtle but fascinating transition to the San Francisco Mint. This silver coin, graded in Almost Uncirculated condition, belongs to the historic Morgan Dollar series, a design that circulated as everyday currency in the United States for nearly eight decades. What makes this specific issue intriguing to observers is its reverse design, known as the Reverse of '78 variety. This particular variety is distinguished by its eagle design, which features seven tail feathers and a parallel top feather on the arrow flight. The reverse depiction shows a bald eagle clutching both a bundle of arrows and an olive branch, surrounded by the inscriptions "United States of America", "One Dollar", and the motto "In God We Trust". Below the eagle, the "S" mint mark indicates its origin at the San Francisco Mint. On the obverse, a classic profile of Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap is adorned with a hair band inscribed with the word "Liberty". This side of the coin also displays the Latin phrase "E Pluribus Unum", the 1879 year of issue, and thirteen stars representing the original colonies. Struck with a purity of 0.900 silver, this coin contains 0.7734 troy ounces of precious metal, preserving a tangible moment in American numismatic history.