1903-P VAM-11A

Description

Discovered in 2016, this Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar is classified under die pair (189) and features doubled reverse lettering combined with a collar clash on the obverse. The collar clash produces reeding indents at the 11 to 12 o'clock position, where the collar impressed its reeded pattern directly onto the obverse die surface. A polishing line between the olive leaf clusters on the reverse documents post-clash die maintenance where the Mint attempted to remove clash marks. The doubled reverse lettering serves as the primary reverse diagnostic, while the collar clash reeding indents at 11-12 o'clock provide the key obverse marker. Collar clashes differ from standard die clashes — the collar (the ring surrounding the planchet that forms the coin's edge) contacts the die face, transferring its reeded pattern as incuse lines. The A suffix on VAM-11A indicates a die state progression from the primary VAM-11. The 1903 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar was struck during the final years of the original production run, which ended in 1904 before the 1921 resumption. The polishing line between olive leaf clusters documents Mint intervention in the die's surface.

External References