1891-S VAM-4A

Description

Discovered in 2015 by the contributor known as pacificwr, the 1891-S VAM-4A Morgan Dollar is classified as III23 - C3a (Near Date, Die Scratch Eagle's Leg) with the die pairing number pending final confirmation. The reverse (C3a) exhibits a faint vertical die scratch on the right side of the eagle's left leg — a subtle but diagnostically useful marker that, while close to the leg itself and requiring careful examination to identify, serves as both the primary attribution feature and the distinguishing characteristic that separates this variety as a sub-variety of the 1891-S VAM-4. The "Near Date" component indicates the date is positioned closer to Liberty's portrait than the standard location for the 1891-S issue, matching the parent VAM-4's date placement while adding the reverse die scratch as the differentiating feature for the A suffix designation. Community notes describe the die scratch as "pretty faint and close to eagle's leg," acknowledging its subtle nature while affirming its utility as both a die marker and the basis for the sub-variety classification. The Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan and struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1891 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1891-S had a mintage of approximately 5.3 million pieces. The VAM sub-variety suffix system (A, B, C, etc.) is used when additional die states or minor diagnostic differences are identified within an existing VAM number, expanding the catalog without disrupting the established numbering framework. The pacificwr discovery in 2015 demonstrates how VAM research continues to identify new sub-varieties within previously documented die marriages, adding granularity to the understanding of each working die's production history.

External References