1886-P VAM-1G

Description

Originally cataloged as VAM-1G III21 - C3a (Clashed Obverse n) with die sequence notation "(189)," this 1886 Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar variety was later eliminated and reclassified as VAM-6B, making it a historically interesting but delisted entry in the VAM catalog. The variety was discovered by C. Logan McKechnie in February 2005 and documented a clashed die impression showing a partial incuse lowercase "n" from the reverse word "In" appearing next to Liberty's neck on the obverse. This "n" clash appears higher on the neck than the similar impression found on VAM-1F, initially distinguishing it as a separate variety. Die clashing occurs when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them, transferring design elements from one die onto the other in incuse form. The subsequent reclassification to VAM-6B indicates that researchers determined this was actually a die state of the VAM-6 die marriage rather than a separate variety under VAM-1, leading to the delisting. The 1886 Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar had a mintage of 19,963,000, one of the higher Philadelphia outputs in the series. The VAM cataloging system undergoes regular revision as new information emerges, and the elimination and renumbering of varieties reflects the self-correcting nature of this collaborative research effort spanning decades of scholarship.

External References