1880-P VAM-1D

Description

Discovered by Jerry Cosworth in May 2003, the 1880-P VAM-1D is cataloged in the Van Allen-Mallis reference as die pair III2 1 / C3a, bearing the descriptive title "Die Scratch Hair & Cotton Leaf." The defining obverse characteristic is a thin, long die scratch running from the hair below the Y in LIBERTY upward through the top cotton leaf to the cap edge — a dramatic linear marker that traverses one of the most detailed areas of George T. Morgan's Liberty Head design. Additionally, very slight doubling appears on the first 8 at the lower right inside and the second 8 at the lower left outside of the upper loop, providing secondary diagnostic points for attribution. The reverse is classified as C3a, a normal die without significant distinguishing features. Morgan dollars were struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a diameter of 38.1 mm, featuring a reeded edge with 189 reeds. The 1880 Philadelphia issue was produced during the height of the Bland-Allison Act era (1878-1890), which mandated the U.S. Treasury purchase millions of dollars' worth of silver monthly, resulting in enormous Morgan dollar mintages. The prominent die scratch from hair to cotton leaf on this variety likely resulted from a foreign particle or debris dragging across the die face during cleaning or handling, scoring a permanent channel into the working die that then transferred as a raised line on every coin struck from that die until it was retired from service.

External References