1903-S VAM-1

Description

Serving as the baseline die pairing against which all other 1903-S Morgan Dollar VAMs are compared, the VAM-1 "Normal Die" documents the standard die marriage for this date and mint. The obverse is classified as Obverse III2 type 1 with an open 9 in the date — where the loop of the numeral 9 does not fully close, leaving a visible gap. The reverse carries a C4a classification featuring a large S mintmark that is centered and upright, representing the standard mintmark position for San Francisco production. Normal die VAMs serve an essential cataloging function in the system created by Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis: by establishing baseline characteristics without anomalies, they provide the reference standard that all other sub-varieties are measured against. Every repunched mintmark, doubled element, or die defect on subsequent VAM numbers is described relative to this normal configuration. The 1903-S Morgan Dollar is a significant key date — while its business strike mintage of 1,241,000 is modest, it is proof-like and deep mirror proof-like specimens that command the greatest attention. Struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams on 38.1mm planchets, VAM-1 documents the open 9 obverse paired with the large centered upright S reverse as the standard die marriage.

External References