1896-S VAM-2

Description

Discovered by Bill Fivaz in July 1972 — the same Bill Fivaz who would co-author the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties, one of numismatics' most influential attribution references — VAM-2 on the 1896-S Morgan Dollar exhibits doubled date digits and a doubled mint mark. The obverse die, classified III2 2, shows the numeral 1 doubled below its upper crossbar and the 6 doubled at its top as a curved line, both indicating that the date logotype received a secondary impression during die preparation. The reverse die classified C3d reveals the S mint mark from San Francisco doubled to the left of its upper serif, confirming that the mint mark punch was also applied twice with slight offset. The plate notation 2 III2 2 with C3d places this variety within the Van Allen-Mallis system. San Francisco's 1896 Morgan Dollar mintage of approximately 5 million pieces makes it a relatively low-production issue in the series, and doubled features on both obverse date and reverse mint mark elevate VAM-2's appeal among cherrypickers seeking varieties with multiple diagnostics on a single coin. Fivaz's early discovery in 1972 preceded the formal VAM catalog publication.

External References