1880/79-CC $1 Morgan Silver Dollar, Rev of '78 NGC MS63

This is a top 100 Variety. VAM-4 is among the most important issues for advanced collectors of Morgan dollars. The VAM-4 is a prominent overdate in the Morgan dollar series, for the 80/79 overdate is visible to an unaided eye, especially within the loop of the '0.' Plus the Reverse of 1878 subtype is in the minority of examples known.

Comparison of Reverses of the 1880-CC Morgan dollar, courtesy of PCGS Coinfacts website.

The 1880-CC (mintage of 591,000) was produced in two varieties: Reverse of 1878 (flat eagle breast and parallel top arrow feathers on the reverse) of about 125,000, and Reverse of 1879 (slanted top arrow feather on reverse) of about 360,000. The strike is typically better on the Reverse of 1878 variety, with some weakness on the hair above the ear and flatness on the eagle's breast. David Bowers writes that they generally have frosty surfaces and "[t]he lustre on a typical 1880-CC is quite nice." The GSA hoard total of this date was 131,529--22.25% of the total mintage. This date is easier to find and therefore more affordable.