1885-P VAM-8

Description

Discovered by Bill Fivaz in May 1975, the 1885 Morgan Dollar VAM-8 is designated a Hit List 40 variety — one of the 40 most sought-after Morgan Dollar VAMs as curated by the top tier collecting community. The defining feature is a thick dash positioned below and touching the second 8 in the date on obverse die III2 8, paired with reverse die C3a. This variety has been identified as a duplicate listing with VAM-22, meaning both VAM numbers describe the same die pairing, and collectors may encounter the variety cataloged under either designation. The thick dash below the second 8 likely resulted from a die gouge or polishing artifact that created a distinctive raised horizontal mark on struck coins, positioned close enough to the numeral to actually touch the bottom of the loop. Bill Fivaz's discovery of this variety — by the co-author of the Cherrypickers' Guide — and its subsequent inclusion on the Hit List 40 underscore its significance within the Morgan Dollar VAM collecting community. The 1885 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar is a common date in the series, making VAM-8's Hit List 40 status an attractive combination of collecting significance and availability.

External References