1878-P VAM-14A

Description

Discovered in 2004, VAM-14A on the 1878-P Morgan Dollar is cataloged as I1 2 - A1j with the descriptive designation "Doubled Motto, Clashed Obverse n." The obverse die (designated I1 2) exhibits a clashed die condition where a faint, partial incuse letter "n" — transferred from the word "In" on the reverse — appears as an impression next to Liberty's neck. Die clashing occurs when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them, transferring incuse impressions of one die's raised design elements onto the opposing die face. The partial nature of the transferred "n" indicates either a glancing clash or one where the dies met at an angle, capturing only a portion of the letter. VAM-14A's catalog notation (193) corresponds to its position within the comprehensive Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis numbering system that has documented hundreds of die varieties across the Morgan Dollar series since the 1960s. The 1878-P date holds foundational importance in Morgan Dollar collecting as the series' inaugural year, when the Philadelphia Mint produced the first coins under the Bland-Allison Act mandating Treasury purchases of silver bullion. George T. Morgan's Liberty Head obverse and heraldic eagle reverse debuted on these coins, and 1878-P varieties include the famous 7 and 8 tail feather transitions. The DPIS (Date Position in the Shield) notation confirms that dates were part of the master die in 1878, eliminating date position as a variable between working dies from this year. The doubled motto component adds a hub doubling dimension to the clash variety.

External References