1890-P VAM-19

Description

Strongest of a four-variety sequence examining doubled ear characteristics on 1890 Philadelphia Morgan Dollars, VAM-19 is designated "Doubled Ear Right Inside" and exhibits doubling on the right inside of Liberty's ear that is both stronger and higher than the comparable features on VAM-16, VAM-17, and VAM-18. Discovered by Ken Heacock in July 2001, the variety is classified as VAM-19 III2 19 C3a with emission sequence number 189. The date is set in normal position, directing attribution focus entirely to the ear doubling as the defining diagnostic. Doubled ears on Morgan Dollars result from hub displacement during die manufacture, where a slight shift between hubbing impressions creates a secondary impression of the ear's interior contours. The progressive strengthening across VAM-16 through VAM-19 suggests increasing hub displacement across successive dies or different dies from hubs re-entered with varying degrees of misalignment. Heacock's identification of VAM-19 as the strongest member of this doubled ear group established a comparative framework that helps attributors distinguish the four related varieties based on the intensity and vertical position of the doubling.

External References