1881-P VAM-1A

Description

Discovered by Del Ford in September 1975, the 1881-P VAM-1A Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 1 - C3a (Die Chips in 8) with die pairing number 180. The obverse (III2 1) exhibits a short die chip at the top left inside of the upper loop of the first 8 in the date — a localized die deterioration marker where a small piece of the die face has broken away within the confined geometry of the numeral's loop, creating a raised bump on struck coins at that position. In some specimens, the second 8 also develops die chips in the middle of both loops, and other specimens show die chips at the top inside of both loops — a progressive die deterioration sequence where the 8s' internal loops, being areas of concentrated striking stress due to their enclosed geometry, gradually accumulate damage through the die's service life. The reverse (C3a) is classified as a normal die. A noteworthy cross-reference in the VAMWorld community records reveals that the 1881-P VAM-1A and the 1881-P VAM-10 were both produced with the exact same reverse die — meaning these two VAM numbers share an identical reverse but differ in their obverse dies or die states, demonstrating the Mint's practice of pairing and re-pairing dies throughout production runs. George T. Morgan designed this silver dollar, struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1881 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and a reeded edge. Del Ford's 1975 discovery date places this among the earlier-documented VAM varieties, predating the explosion of VAM collecting that accelerated in the 1990s and 2000s. The variable die chip progression across different specimens provides a built-in die state indicator, as earlier strikes show only the first 8's chip while later strikes accumulate additional chips in the second 8.

External References