1898-S VAM-17

Description

Discovered by Mitch Hill in 2011, the 1898-S Morgan Dollar VAM-17 is classified III2 11 C3j: Near Date, Doubled Ear, S/S Tilted Right Near Date. The reverse C3j die shows a IV S mint mark that is doubled at the right of the top serif and below the bottom serif, with a slight tilt to the right — a combination of repunching and tilt that makes the mintmark attribution particularly specific. A reverse die marker — a polishing line to the right of the first berry cluster in the left wreath — provides a secondary identification anchor. The relationship between VAM-17 and VAM-17A is an important die-continuity note: VAM-17 represents the early die state of the same dies that later produced VAM-17A, which exhibits a hair break on the lower obverse and is therefore the later die state of this pairing. This die-state sequence connects the two varieties as part of the same die life progression rather than independent die pairings. Struck in 90% silver at the San Francisco Mint, the 1898-S Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan, and VAM-17's doubled-serif mintmark and documented die-state relationship to VAM-17A make it a notable entry in the 1898-S variety census.

External References