1885-P VAM-12

Description

Martin Field's September 1979 discovery of VAM-12 for the 1885 Morgan Dollar brought attention to a subtle but diagnostic date doubling on this Philadelphia issue. The obverse displays the numeral 5 doubled at the top outside, visible as a thin line set well above the top of the 5, a feature best observed under magnification with angled lighting. Date doubling on Morgan Dollars typically results from a misaligned hub impression during die-making, leaving a ghost of the numeral offset from its final position. Philadelphia served as the primary production facility throughout the series, and its higher mintages meant more working dies were consumed, increasing opportunities for hub-doubling events. Cataloged as plate 12 III2 12 - C3a (188), this variety occupies a well-established position in the VAM reference for the 1885 date. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper at 26.73 grams, the 1885 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar is readily available in circulated grades, giving variety collectors reasonable access to this doubled date specimen for attribution study. =1885-P VAM-12 Doubled 5= Discovered by Martin Field, September 1979.

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