1896-P VAM-7

Description

Discovered by Guy Messing in July 1976, the 1896-P VAM-7 is classified as a Doubled 1, Near Date variety on a Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar, carrying the die pairing III2 7 with reverse designation C3a. The obverse die shows the numeral 1 in the date doubled at the top left as a short spike, with slight doubling below the upper crossbar — a feature created during the die-making process when the hub impressed the date area with a minor positional shift between impressions. Additionally, the date is set further left than normal positioning, distinguishing this die from the standard date placement seen on most 1896-P Morgan Dollars. The Morgan Dollar, designed by George T. Morgan and produced from 1878 through 1921, features Lady Liberty's profile on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse, with the date hand-punched into each working die during this era of production. The 1896 Philadelphia issue had a mintage of approximately 9.98 million coins, placing it in the moderate range for the series. VAM-7 was among the early discoveries in what would become a comprehensive catalog of die varieties for every date and mintmark in the Morgan Dollar series. The doubled 1 with its telltale spike and the shifted date placement together provide reliable attribution points that collectors can verify under moderate magnification. VAM collecting has become one of the most popular specialties within silver dollar numismatics, with dedicated registries and competitive set-building driving demand for properly attributed examples.

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