1890-S VAM-15

Description

Discovered by Martin Field in September 1979 and revised in 2016, this San Francisco Mint Morgan Dollar is designated VAM-15 under Classification 15 III2 3, C3f, with die pair 188. The variety documents a Far Date with S Tilted and Shifted Left. A vertical polishing line on the right side of the R and left side of the T in LIBERTY serves as a distinctive obverse die marker. The reverse carries a thread-like die impression in the upper tail feathers, providing an additional diagnostic. The far date means the digits sit further from their normal location, while the tilted and leftward-shifted S indicates the punch was applied at an angle and offset during die preparation. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, the 1890-S Morgan Dollar was produced at San Francisco during the final years before the Sherman Silver Purchase Act reshaped silver dollar production. Field's original 1979 discovery and the 2016 revision reflect ongoing refinement of VAM classifications as new information emerges. The combination of far date, tilted mint mark, and distinctive polishing line provides three independent diagnostics for confirming the VAM-15 attribution.

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