“1878 7tf Morgan Silver Dollar CACG EF45” is a specific description of a coin that tells you a lot about its type, condition, and certification. Here’s a breakdown of what each part means:
- 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar: This identifies the coin as a Morgan Dollar, a famous U.S. silver coin that was minted from 1878 to 1904 and then again in 1921. 1878 was the first year of issue.
- 7tf: This is a key detail for 1878 Morgan Dollars. It stands for “7 Tail Feathers.” The design of the eagle on the reverse of the 1878 coin was changed shortly after production began. The initial design had eight tail feathers (8tf), which was quickly changed to seven (7tf). There are also 7/8tf varieties where the 8th tf is visible underneath the 7th tf.
- CACG: This is the grading service that certified the coin. CACG stands for Certified Acceptance Corporation Grading. This is a newer grading service launched by the well-known Certified Acceptance Corporation (CAC). CAC was originally a “sticker” service that would review coins already graded by PCGS or NGC and apply a green or gold sticker to coins that were at the high end of their grade. CACG is their full-fledged grading service. A coin graded by CACG is encapsulated in a CACG holder.
- EF45: This is the coin’s grade, assigned using the Sheldon grading scale.
- EF stands for Extremely Fine. This means the coin has seen some circulation and wear, but the details are still strong.
- 45 is the numerical grade. On the 70-point scale, EF45 is near the top of the Extremely Fine range. It indicates a coin with all the high points showing some wear, but with traces of its original luster possibly remaining.
Summary:
This is an Extremely Fine 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar with 7 tail feathers on the eagle, which has been independently authenticated and graded by the CACG grading service with a numerical grade of 45.
Value:
The value of such a coin can vary widely based on its exact condition, eye appeal, and the specific variety. However, the CACG certification often commands a premium because their grading standards are known to be very strict.
To get a current value, you would need to check recent auction results and price guides for this specific type of coin in an EF45 grade, especially those that have been graded by CACG.
