1882-S VAM-35

Description

Sitting well into the die variety catalog for the 1882 San Francisco Morgan Dollar, VAM-35 represents a distinct die pairing identified far beyond the baseline. The jump from VAM-1A's foundational role to VAM-35's mid-catalog position spans dozens of individually documented die combinations, each carrying diagnostic markers distinguishing it from every other entry. This depth reflects the 1882-S mintage of 9,250,000 coins, which placed many working die pairs into service and generated diverse die-specific characteristics. George T. Morgan's design was struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams on 38.1mm planchets. The 1882-S is well represented in surviving populations, particularly in higher grades where Treasury bag coins provide researchers with sharp, unworn surfaces ideal for die marker identification. VAM-35 documents a unique obverse-reverse die combination identified through specific scratches, polishing patterns, or positional features. For collectors, mid-range catalog numbers like VAM-35 often represent the accessible middle ground between well-known early varieties and more recently discovered higher-numbered entries.

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