1885-P VAM-14

Description

The 1885-P VAM-14, known as the "Wild Hair" variety, was discovered by Martin Field in September 1979. The obverse shows doubling on the top line of the 5 in the date, with a thread impression visible in the hair detail — the feature that gave the variety its distinctive nickname. The "Wild Hair" designation refers to the anomalous thread-like mark within Liberty's hair, a distinctive die characteristic readily identifiable without magnification on well-preserved examples. This die is also known to exist in a clashed-die state cataloged as VAM-14A, the clashed variant representing a later die state in the same die progression. The 1885-P Morgan Dollar is a 90% silver coin struck at the Philadelphia Mint during a period when Morgan Dollar production was robust. The Wild Hair nickname has made VAM-14 one of the more widely recognized variety names among casual collectors of the series, and both the regular VAM-14 and the clashed VAM-14A are actively sought for type sets and complete die-marriage collections.

External References