1883-P VAM-1.7

Description

Seventh decimal sub-variant of the baseline VAM-1 combination, the 1883-P VAM-1.7 rounds out a trio of fine-grained die variants — alongside VAM-1.2 and VAM-1.6 — documented for the normal die pairing of the 1883 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar. At least seven decimal sub-variants for a single die pair demonstrates the thoroughness of modern VAM research, where collectors catalog even minor die characteristics across a die pair's working life. The decimal system accommodates these discoveries without disrupting the primary VAM numbering sequence, preserving the distinction between fundamentally different die combinations and incremental variations within a single pairing. The 1883-P was struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams on 38.1mm planchets, with a mintage of 12,290,000 pieces. George T. Morgan's design features Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap adorned with cotton blossoms and wheat on the obverse, with a heraldic eagle grasping olive branch and arrows on the reverse. For the advanced VAM specialist, decimal sub-varieties like VAM-1.7 represent the frontier of die study where new discoveries continue to expand the catalog.

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