1885-P VAM-9.5

Description

The 1885-P VAM-9.5 is a Morgan dollar variety struck at the Philadelphia Mint and designated as Far Date, classified as III2 9 - C3a (188). The Philadelphia Mint produced 17,787,767 Morgan dollars in 1885, each composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams at 38.1 mm in diameter. The "9.5" designation indicates this variety was discovered after VAM-9 and before VAM-10 in the original cataloging sequence, representing a variety closely related to VAM-9G that warranted separate listing. The obverse die, classified as III2 9, shows the date set further right than normal, earning the "Far Date" designation that distinguishes it from the standard date position used on most 1885-P dies. VAMWorld commentary provides important die state context: VAM-9.5 represents the mid die state of VAM-9G, with no letter transfer from clashing and a reverse crack running from the wreath to the first L in DOLLAR. At early die state (the 9G configuration), there is no crack on the reverse, no clashes, and a dot appears on the 8. This die state progression documentation helps collectors understand that VAM-9.5 and VAM-9G represent the same die pair at different points in its working life, with the reverse crack and absence of clashing distinguishing the mid die state from the early die state. The Far Date positioning, where the date is shifted rightward from its typical location, likely occurred during die preparation when the date logotype was entered into the working die. Morgan dollars from 1885-P are widely available in mint state from Treasury bag releases, and the Far Date characteristic provides collectors with an accessible entry point for cherry-picking, as the rightward date shift can be detected with the unaided eye on well-preserved specimens.

External References