1881-S VAM-1

Description

Serving as the baseline die pairing for the 1881 San Francisco Morgan Dollar, VAM-1 represents the normal die combination in the Van Allen-Mallis catalog system — the standard reference point against which all other 1881-S die varieties are measured and distinguished. Designated as obverse die III2-1 paired with reverse die C3a, this combination uses the normal III2 type obverse and a normal C3 type reverse carrying a medium size IV S mintmark that is centered and upright. Some specimens show minor die chips between the top and bottom loops of the first 8 in the date — while positioned on the normal die, these chips represent progressive die deterioration rather than a separate variety, as they appear inconsistently across the production run depending on die state. Designed by George T. Morgan, the Morgan Dollar features Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap adorned with wheat and cotton on the obverse, and a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings clutching arrows and an olive branch on the reverse. The 1881-S Morgan Dollar boasts a mintage of 12,760,000 pieces, struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams on 38.1mm planchets at the San Francisco Mint. This date and mint combination is among the most available Morgan Dollars in uncirculated condition, as millions were stored in Treasury vaults and later released, making it an ideal entry point for VAM collecting.

External References