1881-S VAM-2

Description

Among the earliest documented varieties in the 1881-S Morgan Dollar die marriage catalog, VAM-2 was discovered by George Mallis in July 1964 — predating even the formal publication of the Van Allen-Madison reference system. Classified as III2 2 - C3a (Doubled 8) with die pairing number 184, the obverse displays the first 8 doubled inside and below the lower loop, a localized doubling feature that resulted from a slight hub misalignment during the die manufacturing process. The emission sequence documentation reveals significant die-sharing relationships: the same obverse die was used to produce VAM-16, VAM-2, VAM-32, and VAM-90, establishing a multi-marriage obverse die that was paired with at least four different reverse dies during its service life. This shared obverse creates a family of related die marriages where collectors can trace the obverse die's progressive wear across different reverse pairings. Community commentary notes that some VAM-32 specimens show evidence of a clashing and repolishing event at the neck and jaw junction, providing die state progression data that helps establish the chronological sequence in which the obverse die was paired with its various reverses. The Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan and struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1881 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1881-S had a massive mintage of approximately 12.76 million pieces, with many coins stored in Treasury vaults for decades, making high-grade uncirculated examples surprisingly available. The doubled 8 feature, while subtle, serves as the primary diagnostic for distinguishing VAM-2 from other members of this obverse die family.

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