1894-S VAM-6

Description

Martin Field discovered this San Francisco Morgan dollar variety in June 1982, and it carries the III2 6 obverse paired with a C3e reverse under the designation Gouges at Jaw, High S. The obverse die positions the date in normal placement and is distinguished by two gouges extending from the bottom edge of Liberty's jaw, along with a large, flat lump in the middle of her ear. Additional obverse die markers include polishing lines through LIBERTY and a diagonal line through the D-shaped void in the hair. The reverse features an S mint mark set notably high, with a diagonal gouge running from the bottom inside of the bow to the tip of the topmost leaf in the first right wreath cluster. The Die Pairing Identification System assigns this variety RH3/B45. Of particular interest to die marriage researchers, the reverse C3e die also appears paired with a different obverse in 1894-S VAM-12, documenting the Mint's reuse of this reverse die across multiple obverse pairings. The jaw gouges serve as the quickest screening diagnostic, visible even at moderate magnification on well-preserved specimens. =1894-S VAM-6 Gouges at Jaw, High S= Discovered by Martin Field, June 1982.

External References