1880 Morgan Dollar - VAM-26

Description

The 1880-P VAM-26, cataloged as the Doubled Date, Tripled 8 variety, was discovered by Maurice Dubreuil in February 1977. The date doubling is extensive: the first 8 shows doubling to the upper right, the second 8 carries three distinct impressions — making it a tripled 8, an unusual numismatic occurrence — while the 0 shows doubling to the lower right. The reverse of this die pairing is shared with VAM-89. Tripling on a single numeral requires three separate hub or logotype contacts with slightly different rotational or positional displacement at each impression, and the presence of all three impressions on the second 8 makes VAM-26 immediately distinctive under magnification. The 1880-P Morgan Dollar is a 90% silver coin struck at the Philadelphia Mint. In 1880, dates were part of the master die, meaning the date impressions seen on this variety originated at the hub or logotype stage. The reverse die sharing with VAM-89 offers an additional avenue for attribution when the obverse markers are ambiguous.

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