1891-S VAM-1G

Description

Discovered in July 2007, VAM-1G of the 1891-S Morgan Dollar documents fine vertical polishing lines below the eagle on the reverse, evidence of Mint personnel maintaining the die surface during production. Cataloged as 1G III2 1 C3a, this variety pairs a standard Type III2 obverse with a C3a reverse carrying a filled IV S mint mark, meaning the interior of the S punch has partially filled with die material or debris, altering its appearance from the standard open-loop S. The vertical polishing lines below the eagle resulted from deliberate abrasive maintenance where Mint workers polished the die to remove surface imperfections, leaving directional marks that transferred as slightly recessed parallel lines on struck coins. Die polishing lines are distinct from die scratches in that they run in consistent parallel patterns rather than random directions. The San Francisco Mint struck Morgan Dollars throughout the series from 1878 through 1904 and again in 1921, and the 1891-S had a moderate mintage. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper at 26.73 grams, this variety preserves evidence of reverse die maintenance combined with a distinctive filled mint mark.

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