Lot 1574
1878. 7 Tail Feathers, Reverse of 1879. PCGS graded MS-66. CAC Approved. Having exhausted its supply of 8 Tail Feathers and 7/8 Tail Feathers dies, the Mint at last switched permanently to the anatomically correct 7 Tail Feathers version. For at least the first few months of 1878, the reverse dies depicted an eagle with a flat breast and a parallel fletch on the top arrow. Since no eagle alive has a sunken chest, and unless one of the arrows held by the eagle was bent, the perspective was wrong, these two reverse die problems needed a fix. At the end of 1878, a new eagle punch was incorporated where the eagle's breast was rounded while the top fletch was slanted. Coins struck from this new die became known as the "Reverse of 1879" to differentiate them from the earlier dies. It is for this reason that the 1878 7 Tail Feathers is found with either a Reverse of 1878 (rather common) or the Reverse of 1879. This example has been carefully preserved and exhibits bright snow-white surfaces and a bold impression of the dies. As expected of the Superb grade rating, there are no mentionable marks or problems visible on either side. Simply put, this is one of the finest we have seen for the date.Pop 19; none finer at PCGS. Tied for the finest graded at both services. (PCGS # 7076) .
Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000.
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| Realized $10,869 |
