1888-S VAM-10

Description

First documented by C. Logan McKechnie in May 2002, the 1888-S VAM-10 is a Doubled Ear Bottom variety on the Morgan dollar from the San Francisco Mint. Classified as 10 III2 27 - C3a (Doubled Ear Bottom) (187), the obverse shows slight doubling at the bottom of the earlobe, a delicate diagnostic best confirmed under magnification against the smooth contour of the lower ear. The reverse carries the standard C3a designation. What makes this variety especially notable is the die-sharing relationship it documents: VAM-10 and VAM-10A were made with the exact same pair of dies, representing different die states of a single marriage. Furthermore, the obverse die was shared with VAM-11, meaning this one obverse was paired with at least two different reverse dies during its production life. The emission sequence grouping of VAMs 10, 10A, and 11 illuminates the Mint's practice of replacing worn reverse dies while continuing to use a serviceable obverse. These die-sharing relationships are central to understanding Morgan dollar production at San Francisco and give collectors a tangible connection to the operational decisions made on the coining floor. =1888-S VAM-10 Doubled Ear Bottom= Discovered by C.

External References