1880-S VAM-6A

Description

Discovered in August 2022, the 1880-S VAM-6A Morgan Dollar is classified as III2 3 - C3c, a Doubled 0, S Tilted Left, Break through B variety from the San Francisco Mint. The 1880-S is among the most common Morgan Dollar dates with a mintage of 8,900,000, yet its wide array of VAM varieties — including multiple over-mintmark and doubled date dies — makes it one of the most actively collected dates in the series. This 90% silver dollar weighs 26.73 grams at 38.1 mm diameter. The obverse die (III2 3) shows extensive date doubling: the numeral 1 is doubled at the lower right side of its vertical shaft, the right 8 shows doubling at the lower left outside of the upper loop, and the 0 is doubled at the top left and right outside and lower right inside — the most heavily doubled digit in the date. A die break through the B of LIBERTY represents significant die deterioration. The obverse die marker is a single diagonal polishing line visible in the cap fold of Liberty's Phrygian cap. The reverse mintmark S is tilted to the left, a position variation resulting from the hand-punching process at the San Francisco facility. Die pair 188 is assigned, and the reverse is classified C3c. This relatively recent 2022 discovery demonstrates that new VAM varieties continue to be identified on even the most heavily studied Morgan Dollar dates, as collectors and researchers examine fresh specimens with modern imaging technology.

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