1888-S VAM-9

Description

Cataloged as 9 III2 5 - C3b with plate photo 186, this 1888-S Morgan Dollar carries the designation "Doubled 18, S/S" and was discovered by Martin Field in April 1982. This variety combines two distinct diagnostics: doubled date digits and a repunched mintmark. The obverse shows the digits 18 doubled, while the reverse displays an S over S repunched mintmark with the original S showing as a curved line visible on the left side of the upper loop opening — a precise positional relationship that serves as the primary reverse attribution marker. Repunched mintmarks on Morgan Dollars result from the mintmark being hand-punched into working dies at the branch mint, where slight positional shifts between the first and second impressions of the punch created overlapping images. The combination of an obverse doubling anomaly with a reverse mintmark positioning variety in the same die marriage creates a coin with attribution points on both sides. Obverse die class III2 5 designates a modified die in subclass 5, paired with reverse C3b — the specific reverse class denoting this repunched mintmark configuration. Martin Field was among the active researchers expanding the VAM catalog during the early 1980s. Struck at the San Francisco Mint on 90% silver planchets at 26.73 grams, the 1888-S Morgan Dollar is a moderately available date in the series.

External References