1879-CC VAM-1

Description

Discovered by George Mallis in June 1965, the 1879-CC VAM-1 Morgan Dollar carries the designation "Normal Dies" with a classification of III2 1 - C3a and a rarity rating of 178. Despite the "Normal Dies" label, this variety has specific identifying characteristics: the obverse presents a normal die of the III2 type with a closed 9 in the date — meaning the loop of the numeral 9 fully connects to form a complete enclosed area, distinguishing it from "open 9" varieties where the loop has a gap. Slight doubling is also noted at the top of the Phrygian cap on Liberty's head. The reverse carries a C3 type classification with a V-shaped CC mintmark shifted to the left of its expected position. The notation that this variety shares the same reverse die as VAM-5 is a significant die marriage detail, indicating that the Carson City Mint reused this reverse die across at least two different die pairings, each documented as a separate VAM. The 1879-CC Morgan Dollar was struck at the Carson City Mint in Nevada with a mintage of 756,000 pieces — one of the lower mintages in the Morgan Dollar series, making the 1879-CC a prized date among collectors. The coin was produced in 90% silver at 26.73 grams and 38.1 mm diameter. Carson City Morgan Dollars, identifiable by the desirable CC mintmark, command premiums across all VAM varieties due to the Mint's limited production capacity and the romantic association of its coinage with Nevada's silver mining era. George Mallis, whose 1965 discovery of VAM-1 preceded the formal VAM cataloging system that he would help establish alongside Leroy Van Allen, laid the groundwork for the comprehensive die variety classification of Morgan Dollars.

External References