1900-S VAM-21

Description

Classified as III2 7 - C3d with the designation "Slanted Date, S Set High," VAM-21 of the 1900 San Francisco Mint Morgan Dollar documents two distinct positional anomalies on a single die pair: a slanted date with the numeral 1 closest to the rim, and a wide V-shaped S mint mark set unusually high on the reverse. The catalog number 189 places this within the Van Allen-Mallis organizational framework. Both anomalies stem from the hand-punching process used to add date numerals and mint marks to working dies — the date logotype was punched into the obverse die at a slight angle rather than perfectly horizontal, while the S mint mark was positioned higher than standard placement on the reverse die. A significant production note indicates that this exact die pair was also used to produce VAM-21A, meaning the same obverse and reverse dies created two cataloged varieties distinguished by die state differences rather than die identity. The 1900-S Morgan Dollar had a mintage of approximately 3.5 million pieces at San Francisco, making it a moderately scarce date in the series, and the survival of specimens attributable to specific VAM varieties depends on the proportion of total production struck from each die pair. Slanted dates and high-set mint marks are among the more visually accessible VAM diagnostics, as they can often be detected without high magnification by experienced collectors who know what to look for. The C3d reverse classification and III2 7 obverse classification provide the systematic positioning within the VAM catalog structure that enables cross-referencing with related varieties from the same dies at different states, including the companion VAM-21A that shares this exact die pairing.

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