1889-P VAM-4

Description

One of George Mallis's original June 1965 discoveries — predating the formal publication of the VAM reference — this Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar is designated III2 4 - C3a and distinguished by a date positioned dramatically further right than normal die pairs. The very far date classification places VAM-4 at the extreme end of the lateral positioning spectrum, where the entire date logotype sits noticeably displaced toward the rim. An open 9 — where the loop does not fully close — serves as a secondary diagnostic, and die chips between the loops of the first 8 on the right provide a tertiary attribution marker. Later die state examples exhibit clash marks without letter transfer, indicating that the obverse and reverse dies contacted without a planchet between them but did not transfer identifiable reverse lettering onto the obverse surface. This progression from early die state with clean fields to later clashed states documents the working life of the die pair and offers collectors the opportunity to assemble die state sequences showing the evolving condition of a single die marriage. =1889-P VAM-4 Very Far Date= Discovered by George Mallis, June 1965.

External References