1880-S VAM-40A

Description

Discovered in 2012 by Brent Fogelberg, the 1880-S VAM-40A Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 26 - C3c (Doubled 80, S Tilted Left, Die Break Left Stars) with die pairing number 185. The obverse (III2 26) exhibits a radial die crack running between the third and fourth left stars, accompanied by a slight displaced field break — a structural failure where the die crack has caused visible displacement of metal in the surrounding field, indicating the crack had progressed beyond a simple surface fissure into a deeper structural fracture. The doubled 80 component documents doubling on the last two digits of the date, while the S tilted left describes the San Francisco mintmark positioned with a leftward tilt relative to its standard orientation. A critical cataloging note warns collectors that VAM-40A is listed with a type VI Large S mintmark, while VAM-40 is listed with a type IV Medium S — a distinction that is essential for correct attribution, as confusing the two mintmark types would lead to misidentification between these related but distinct varieties. The commentary also notes that the reverse is the same as 1880-S VAM-98, establishing a die-sharing connection between the two varieties. George T. Morgan's design was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1880 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1880-S had a substantial mintage of approximately 8.9 million pieces. The combination of date doubling, tilted mintmark, and progressive obverse die failure with field displacement creates a variety with multiple layers of numismatic interest, and the mintmark type distinction between VAM-40 and VAM-40A represents exactly the kind of fine diagnostic detail that defines advanced VAM collecting.

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