1884-S VAM-15

Description

Discovered in September 2022 by Ed Pope, this San Francisco Morgan dollar is cataloged as VAM-15 under classification III2 2 with a C3h reverse, described as Far Date with Engraved Leaves. The obverse features a date set to the right of the normal position, with die markers that include polishing lines visible within Liberty's ear and along the upper cap fold. On the reverse, the S mintmark is centered and upright, and re-engraved leaves appear in the left wreath opposite the letters ON, UN, and IT. A small lump on the left side of the upper left leaf opposite the E in UNITED may be present only on later die stages. The die pair index reads LE4/C5. Reverse die markers include polishing lines in the wing-neck gap and two stronger horizontal die scratches inside the wreath bow. The re-engraved wreath leaves represent deliberate die reworking to restore definition that had been lost through polishing or wear, and the localized nature of the engraving at specific leaf clusters adjacent to the legend makes this variety distinguishable from other 1884-S listings under magnification.

External References