1898-P VAM-15

Description

Cataloged with a remarkably recent discovery date of August 2025, VAM-15 for the 1898-P Morgan Dollar carries the designation "Slightly Slanted Date, Proof Only" with the notation "15 III2 15 - C3b (Slightly Slanted Date, Proof Only) (?)." The question mark in parentheses signals uncertainty about some aspect of the attribution — possibly the proof-only status or the die pairing confirmation. The obverse (III2 15) shows a date in normal lateral position with a slight upward slant, and the reverse (C3b) exhibits a small chip where the eagle's left wing meets the top of the left leg along with polishing evident in the wreath bow area. The DPIS code C3/B45 provides die pair identification within the Van Allen-Mallis framework. The proof-only designation, if confirmed, makes this variety exclusively associated with the 1898 proof production at the Philadelphia Mint — proof Morgan Dollars were struck in limited quantities for collectors (the 1898 proof mintage was 735 pieces), making any confirmed proof-only VAM inherently scarce. The August 2025 discovery date means this variety was identified over 127 years after the coins were struck, powerfully illustrating the ongoing nature of Morgan Dollar die variety research even in the digital age. The obverse slant and reverse chip provide clear diagnostic points for attribution, though the die polishing in the wreath bow may represent later-state die maintenance that altered the original die characteristics. Morgan Dollar VAM research remains one of the most active areas of American numismatic study, and new discoveries like VAM-15 continue to expand our understanding of late-19th-century Mint production.

External References