1894-S VAM-4

Description

Martin Field documented VAM-4 on the 1894-S Morgan Dollar in March 1979, identifying a date positioned further right than normal — a feature known as a far date resulting from the digit punches being placed laterally offset on this working die. Classified under plate designation 4 III2 2 with die pair C3a (186), the reverse mintmark sits centered and upright. The far date is most readily detected by comparing the horizontal relationship between the date digits and design elements above them, where the rightward shift becomes apparent against a normal-date example. The 1894-S is a scarce issue, with a San Francisco mintage that limits the available population and ensures collector demand across grades. San Francisco processed substantial western silver during the Morgan era, but certain dates — including 1894-S — saw restricted production runs creating lasting scarcity. For VAM attribution, VAM-4's defining characteristic is purely positional rather than involving doubling or repunching, making side-by-side comparison with VAM-1 the most reliable identification method. Collectors should focus on the date's alignment relative to Liberty's neck truncation. =1894-S VAM-4 Far Date= Discovered by Martin Field, March 1979.

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