1878 Morgan Dollar - Reverse of 1878 - VAM-86A

Description

Discovered in 2016, this VAM-86A Morgan Dollar pairs with the Reverse of 1878 die and is catalogued separately from the companion VAM-86A entry that uses the Reverse of 1879. Full designation: 86A II/I 6 — B1h (Doubled LIBERTY, Wheat Leaves, and Grains, Disconnected Leaves, Clashed Obv n and t) (180). The obverse carries the same clashed die markers that define the VAM-86 family: a partial incuse n from the reverse legend In God We Trust appears beside Liberty's neck, and a partial incuse t from Trust appears in the right hair vee of the lower hair edge. This die state is earlier than the related VAM-22A, which bears the same clash impressions in a more advanced state of die wear. The Reverse of 1878 is the earlier reverse hub used on 1878-P dollars before the Mint transitioned mid-year to the revised 1879 hub design — a change driven by modifications to the eagle's tail feathers. Coins with the Reverse of 1878 are accordingly associated with early-year production. All VAM-86 coins carry this clash as a family trait. As with all 1878-P Morgans, the date was part of the master die and shows no positional variation in Die Position Identification System measurements.

External References