1903-S VAM-3

Description

Also discovered by George Mallis in June 1965 — the same month he identified the 1903-P VAM-2 Open 9 — the 1903-S VAM-3 documents a San Francisco Morgan Dollar with the S mintmark tilted left beneath the wreath on the reverse. Mallis, the "M" in the Van Allen-Mallis system, identified both varieties during foundational research that helped establish the comprehensive catalog of Morgan and Peace Dollar die varieties. Mintmark tilt occurred because each letter punch was individually hand-applied to the working die, and any counterclockwise rotation during application became a permanent feature. The leftward tilt distinguishes this die from all other 1903-S reverse dies and serves as an unambiguous attribution point. The 1903-S had a mintage of 1,241,000 — modest by Morgan Dollar standards and contributing to its better-date status. Struck at San Francisco in 90% silver at 38.1mm and 26.73 grams. Morgan's design was in its twenty-sixth year, nearing the end of its original run before the 1921 resumption. Examine the S mintmark below the wreath for its left-tilted orientation to identify this variety from one of the VAM system's founding researchers.

External References