1878-CC VAM-8

Description

Originally cataloged as the 1878-CC Morgan Dollar VAM-8 with a Wide CC mintmark (widely spaced CC letters at medium height tilted slightly right), this variety has been eliminated from the active VAM registry. The designation was removed after analysis determined it was suspected to be a duplication of VAM-14A — meaning the die characteristics attributed to VAM-8 are believed to match those already documented under VAM-14A rather than representing a distinct die marriage. Eliminated VAMs are an important part of the classification system's provenance: they record the evolving understanding of die varieties as attributors refine distinctions between closely similar die pairs. The original classification as II1-B2b (Wide CC) described widely spaced mintmark letters at medium height, a characteristic shared among several 1878-CC die marriages. The 1878-CC is the first Carson City Mint Morgan Dollar — the inaugural year of George T. Morgan's design and the beginning of CC-mintmark production that would make Carson City issues the most avidly collected Morgan Dollar mint. Struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams. While this VAM number is no longer valid for attribution purposes, collectors encountering coins matching the Wide CC description should attribute them as VAM-14A. The elimination status is preserved here as a historical reference for the VAM classification system.

External References