What are Morgan Dollar Errors? Varieties and Value

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Written By Natasha Jones
I'm Natasha Jones, an avid collector of coins, stamps, and paper money.My passion drives me to seek unique finds, from antique shops to international exchanges.I enjoy connecting with fellow collectors through forums and meet-ups, sharing discoveries and insights.Collecting, for me, is about preserving history and building a community around this shared interest.

What are Morgan Dollar errors? Morgan dollars are considered the most popular U.S. coin among collectors and investors, meaning many are on the market.

However, as with any other coin, Morgan dollars have their share of errors that affect their value.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some common Morgan dollar errors, such as “spitting eagle” coins (1891-CC) and “donkey tails” (1887-P).

We’ll also discuss how these errors affect your coin’s value so you can make an informed decision when investing in a rare piece like this!

What Are Morgan Dollar Errors?

A Morgan dollar error is a coin that has been struck incorrectly and, therefore, considered valuable.

Unfortunately, these coins are often scarce and can sell for thousands of dollars.

This article will cover the Morgan dollar errors you might encounter when purchasing one at your local coin shop or an online auction site.

There are several varieties of errors that can be found on Morgan dollars.

First, there is an overdate error where two dates are stamped on each other during production; these coins are precious because they are so rare!

Another type of error involves doubling—this happens when two images appear side-by-side on one side or both sides of a coin.

It may look like there was only one image, but there’s not enough room for both images, so they overlap each other, creating a new picture altogether!

Lastly, die cracks happen due to wear from striking thousands upon thousands of coins over time until, eventually, cracks start forming around edges, creating little holes within designs and words written underneath them (such as LIBERTY).

The 1891-CC “Spitting Eagle.”

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The most famous Morgan dollar error is the “Spitting Eagle” variety.

It’s also one of the rarest and most valuable, not just because of its rarity.

The glob identifies the Spitting Eagle under the eagle’s open beak on the coin’s reverse side.

The 1887-P “Alligator Eye.”

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The “Alligator Eye” is a Morgan Dollar error known as die-doubling.

This coin is die-doubled so that a secondary image is visible in front of her eye.

Since the vertical line, it created the effect of having an alligator eye.

The 1887-P “Donkey Tail.”

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The “donkey tail” coin is a Morgan Dollar with a die-break error. There is damage on the reverse side of the coin.

The letter “D” on the word “DOLLAR” has a cud under it. It is similar to the Spitting Eagle; the coin lumps due to an error in the minting process.

Before you go…

These are just a few of the varieties of Morgan dollars that can be found. You can find more resources on our website or search eBay for coins within your budget.

Check out my next article: “Top 9: Rare Peace Dollars!

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