1889-P VAM-5

Description

Among the earliest documented VAM varieties for the 1889 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar, VAM-5 was discovered by Edwin Miller in January 1970 — during the pioneering era of Morgan Dollar variety research that would culminate in the Van Allen-Mallis reference catalog. The variety is classified as "III2 5 - C3a (Far Date)" and documents a date placement where the digits are positioned further right than the normal location, creating measurable spacing displacement visible under comparison with standard-position specimens. Both closed and open "9" sub-varieties exist within this die pairing, adding an additional layer of classification interest. Perhaps the most remarkable attribute of VAM-5 is the comment noting that the same obverse die was used to produce Proof specimens for the 1889-P Morgan Dollar. This dual-use of a die for both business strike and proof production was not unprecedented at the Philadelphia Mint, but it creates the unusual situation where a die variety can be found across both finish types — giving collectors the opportunity to pursue the same variety in fundamentally different formats. The 1889-P Morgan Dollar had a substantial business strike mintage of approximately 21.7 million coins alongside a much smaller proof production of 811 pieces, and the Far Date characteristic would be present on all coins from this die regardless of their finish. Miller's 1970 discovery predates the formal publication of the VAM reference system, placing it among the foundational observations that shaped the catalog's development. The "Far Date" designation has remained a recognized and actively collected variety for over half a century.

External References