1878-S VAM-1D2

Description

Discovered in October 2012 by Brad Bellomo, the 1878-S VAM-1D2 is a Morgan dollar variety struck at the San Francisco Mint featuring a Doubled D, Scratches in Tail Feathers, and a Die Break at the M. Classified as II 1 - B2br (Doubled D, Scratches in Tail Feathers, Die Break M) (185), this variety documents a progressive die failure on the reverse. The Morgan dollar, designed by George T. Morgan and first struck in 1878, is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. San Francisco struck 9,774,000 Morgan dollars in 1878, the inaugural year of the series. The 1878-S holds special significance as one of the first-year issues, when the Mint was still establishing production routines for the new design. Since 1878 dates were part of the master die, there is no variation in date position across die pairs. The reverse die, designated B2br, shows a radial die crack extending from the rim through the M in AMERICA and continuing over to the wreath, with a slight displaced field break indicating the die material around the crack had begun to sink or shift. This displacement break represents a more advanced stage of die deterioration than a simple crack, suggesting the die was used extensively before being retired. The emission sequence records show this obverse die was paired in sequence as VAMs 106, 1D1, and 1D2, while the reverse die served in the same progression, documenting how the Mint combined and recombined obverse and reverse dies as they wore. Brad Bellomo's 2012 discovery expanded the known die marriages for this first-year San Francisco Morgan dollar, adding to the variety census for one of the series' foundational dates.

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