1879-P VAM-11

Description

Leonard Hinckley discovered this Morgan Dollar variety in February 1974, making it one of the earlier VAM attributions from the formative period of the classification system. The 1879-P VAM-11 is classified as Doubled 7 with the technical designation III2 11 - C3a, carrying an interest level of I-2, a general rarity of R-3, and a notably different SSDC (Silver Dollar Club) rarity of R-8. This dramatic gap between R-3 (general) and R-8 (SSDC registry) indicates that while the variety itself may be relatively obtainable in the general marketplace, examples that meet the SSDC registry's specific grading or documentation standards are exceptionally rare — only an estimated 2 to 4 examples are listed in that registry. The obverse die (III2 11) shows the numeral 7 doubled on the left side of the upper left serif and on the right side of the lower serif, with a closed 9 in the date. The doubling on the 7 reflects imprecise hub-to-die alignment during the hubbing process, where a slight shift between impressions duplicated specific portions of the digit while leaving other areas unaffected. The reverse is classified as C3a, indicating a normal die pairing. The Philadelphia Mint struck approximately 14.81 million Morgan Dollars in 1879, a substantial mintage from the third year of the series. Hinckley's 1974 discovery predates widespread public awareness of VAM collecting and contributed to the growing database that Van Allen and Mallis would continue to expand and refine through subsequent decades of catalog development.

External References