1904-S VAM-1B

Description

Discovered by Martin Field in October 1982, the 1904-S VAM-1B was originally cataloged for its filled 4 characteristic — die chips accumulated in the center opening of the digit 4 in the date, causing the triangular interior space to appear partially or fully filled on struck coins. However, the filled 4 criterion has since been classified as obsolete — modern VAM cataloging standards no longer recognize die fill from accumulated debris as a permanent die variety, as the fill level can change during production as material accumulates or is dislodged, meaning different coins from the same die may show varying degrees of fill. The obverse is classified as Type III2 die 1 paired with a C4a reverse. The 1904-S Morgan Dollar is the final San Francisco Mint Morgan Dollar from the original production run — the series ended in 1904 before the famous 1921 resumption — making any variety from this date significant as a closing chapter of San Francisco's Morgan Dollar output. Martin Field's 1982 discovery contributed to the expanding VAM catalog during a period of intensive research, and while the primary diagnostic has been superseded by modern standards, the die pairing remains documented in the reference system. The 1904-S saw limited production compared to many earlier San Francisco issues.

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