1881-S VAM-8

Description

Discovered by William Zavressa in January 1969, the 1881-S VAM-8 is a Morgan dollar variety struck at the San Francisco Mint, classified as 8 III2 1 - C3d and designated S/S Right. This variety is one of the earliest VAM discoveries, predating the publication of the first Van Allen-Mallis reference by several years and reflecting the pioneering efforts of early die variety researchers. The Morgan dollar was struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and a reeded edge. San Francisco produced 12,760,000 Morgan dollars in 1881, a healthy mintage that makes this date common in lower grades, with the S-mint often found in exceptional condition due to large quantities stored in Treasury vaults and later released. The reverse, classified as C3d, shows the defining feature: the mintmark is repunched with the original impression visible as a vertical bar to the right of the top serif, and the loop of the mintmark appears filled. The S/S Right designation indicates the initial S mintmark punch landed slightly to the right of the final position, leaving a vertical remnant of the first impression's serif visible at the edge of the corrected mintmark. An important cataloging note records that this reverse die is shared with 1881-S VAM-82, establishing a die linkage between the two varieties. Further analysis suggests that VAM-8 and VAM-8A appear to represent earlier and later die states of the same reverse die, with VAM-8A seemingly the probable classification for all surviving specimens, though the distinction remains part of ongoing VAM community discussion. The filled loop characteristic may result from die polishing performed to extend the die's service life or from the overlapping metal displaced by the double-punched mintmark.

External References