1889-P VAM-1C

Description

Discovered by Michael Ash in August 2006 and re-instated by Peter Hohnstein in 2013, this Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar is classified under die pair (190) with die scratches below the tail feathers as the primary reverse diagnostic. The re-instatement indicates this variety was removed from the active catalog and later restored after further research confirmed its validity. An important attribution note: VAM-1C does NOT have the double ear, gouge at the neck, or gouge at the second right star that characterize the related VAM-52 — these three features serve as exclusionary diagnostics when distinguishing between the two varieties. Collectors examining 1889-P Morgan Dollars should check for these specific features to avoid misattribution. The C suffix indicates a later die state within the VAM-1 family, documenting progressive deterioration. The 1889 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar was produced in large quantities, and the VAM-1 family for this date includes multiple suffix varieties tracking dies through their working lives. The die scratches below the tail feathers provide the positive identification marker for 1C specifically.

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