1888-P VAM-1C

Description

Among the earliest documented Morgan Dollar die varieties, VAM-8 on the 1886 Philadelphia issue was discovered by Edwin Miller in January 1970 — predating the formal publication of the comprehensive VAM reference and reflecting the pioneering era of Morgan Dollar variety research. The variety features a far date set further right than standard and a closed 6 positioned high, creating a distinctive date profile. A gouge in the I of LIBERTY provides an additional obverse diagnostic. Miller's discovery during the dawn of systematic Morgan Dollar variety study gives VAM-8 historical significance beyond its numismatic attributes, documenting a period when researchers were first cataloging the die characteristics that would populate the massive VAM reference. The far date and high 6 combination creates a visually identifiable deviation from standard positioning, making this variety accessible without high magnification. The 1886 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar enjoys popularity among series collectors, and its relatively available supply in mint-state grades gives VAM hunters realistic opportunities to locate specimens. Miller's half-century-old discovery remains the attribution standard.

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