1879 (S) Morgan Dollar - VAM-33A

Description

Discovered in July 2016, the 1879-S VAM-33A Morgan Dollar is classified as 33A III2 17 - C3k (Doubled 18-9 & Right Reverse, S Set Right, Over Polished Lower Reverse) with die pairing number 182. The reverse (C3k) is the defining feature of this variety: severely over-polished lower reverse sections where parts of the wreath bow are missing and some leaves in the lower wreaths have become disconnected from their stems due to aggressive die polishing that removed metal from the die face, eliminating fine design details in the process. Additionally, acid treatment of leaves in the left wreath was mostly removed by the polishing — revealing that this die underwent chemical cleaning (acid treatment to remove surface corrosion or buildup) followed by mechanical polishing, a two-step maintenance sequence that dramatically altered the lower reverse appearance. The catalog notes this is the same reverse die as the former 1879-S VAM-71A, which was reclassified. The obverse carries doubled digits 18-9 in the date, and the S mintmark is set to the right of its normal position. Two die states are documented with photographic evidence: MDS (mid-die-state) and LDS (late die state), capturing the progressive deterioration of this already heavily maintained die pair. The Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan and struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1879 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1879-S had a substantial mintage, with the San Francisco Mint being one of three active facilities producing Morgan Dollars that year alongside Philadelphia and Carson City. The severely over-polished reverse makes this variety visually distinctive even without magnification, as the missing wreath bow elements and disconnected leaves create obvious design anomalies compared to normal specimens.

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