1887-S VAM-17
Error
Description
Cataloged under designation 17 III2 1 - C3g, the 1887-S VAM-17 Morgan Dollar is identified as the Double Arrow Heads variety. The reverse die C3g displays slightly doubled bottom edges on the arrow heads, doubled arrow shafts, doubling on the left talon of the eagle's left foot, and doubled bottom edge of the eagle's left wing. These subtle reverse features require careful magnification to distinguish from die wear or strike characteristics. A correction note from the Late Van Allen reference records that the 1887-S VAM-16 reverse originally listed as C3f in the October 2008 supplement should have been designated C3g, matching the VAM-17 reverse classification. The San Francisco Mint produced just over 1.7 million Morgan Dollars in 1887, making S-mint examples significantly scarcer than their Philadelphia counterparts. Collectors seeking VAM-17 should focus examination on the arrow cluster and eagle's left wing at the base of the reverse, where the doubled elements are most consistently visible across surviving specimens.
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