1898-S VAM-20

Description

Discovered in July 2025 by Brent Fogelberg, the 1898-S VAM-20 is a recently cataloged Morgan dollar variety struck at the San Francisco Mint, classified as 20 III2 13 - C3k and designated Slanted Date, S/S Upright. The Morgan dollar was struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and a reeded edge. San Francisco produced 4,102,000 Morgan dollars in 1898, a moderate mintage figure for the facility. The reverse die, classified as C3k, carries the variety's primary diagnostic: a size IV S mintmark centered and upright, doubled to the right of the top serif and to the left of the bottom serif. This doubling pattern on the mintmark indicates the S was punched twice, with the second impression slightly offset, leaving traces of the first impression visible at the serif extremities. Die markers on the reverse include heavy horizontal polishing lines in and to the right of the wreath bow, and polishing lines in the wing-neck gap, both evidence of die maintenance where the Mint filed and polished the die surface to extend its useful life or remove imperfections. The obverse classification III2 13 indicates a slanted date orientation, where the four digits of the date were punched at a slight angle rather than perfectly horizontal. The DPIS code RH3/B45 positions this variety within the date position indexing system. The extremely recent discovery date of July 2025 makes VAM-20 one of the newest additions to the 1898-S Morgan dollar VAM census, demonstrating that new varieties continue to be identified more than 125 years after these coins were struck. The obverse die is noted as being shared in the emission sequence with VAM-7 and VAM-7A, establishing die linkages within the 1898-S die study.

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