1878-S VAM-12

Error

🪙

Verified LegacyVAM Variety

Market Value

N/A

Rarity Index

N/A

Discovery Date

1878

Last Sold

N/A

Description

Originally discovered by Guy Messing in May 1973, VAM-12 for the 1878-S Morgan Dollar carries the classification II10-B2b, designating it as a Doubled Motto variety. The obverse (II 10) displays motto letters doubled slightly on the lower portion of their top surfaces, with the fourth right star broken — a secondary die marker useful for attribution. A critical note in the VAMWorld record: the 1878 dates were part of the master die, meaning there is no date position variation (DPIS) to measure, as all working dies for that year inherited identical date placement from a single master. Commentary in the record suggests this may be the same die pair as 1878-S VAM-93, and further notes it "Likely Doesn't exist" as a distinct variety — an important caveat for collectors, as it signals possible future elimination or consolidation. The San Francisco Mint struck 9.77 million Morgan Dollars in the inaugural 1878 year of the series.