1886-S VAM-5

Description

A very recent discovery attributed to Brent Fogelberg in November 2025, this 1886-S Morgan Dollar VAM-5 carries the classification III2 2 - C3a with a rarity rating still pending confirmation, noted as (?). The variety is described as "Doubled 18-6, Chip in O" — referring to hub doubling visible on the digits 1, 8, and 6 of the date, combined with a strong die chip inside the letter O of the reverse motto. The latest die stage also exhibits a chip in the G of GOD, and lines in the wreath bow appear slightly polished down from die maintenance. Die pair identification data records DPIS LH3/RE4, with the emission sequence placing the obverse as die 5 and 3, and the reverse as dies 1A, 1B, and 5 — indicating this obverse was paired with multiple reverse dies during its service life. Newly discovered VAM varieties from well-studied dates like 1886-S demonstrate that the Morgan Dollar die variety census remains open even after decades of intensive research. The San Francisco Mint's 1886 production of Morgan Dollars was substantial, and previously unrecognized die marriages continue to surface as collectors apply modern imaging technology to their examinations.

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