1881-S VAM-35

Description

Discovered by Martin Field in October 1980, the 1881-S VAM-35 carries the classification 35 III2 20 C3a, designated Doubled 18, with emission sequence 185. The obverse die, cataloged as Class III2 20, reveals date doubling concentrated on the 1 and first 8. The numeral 1 is doubled on the left top of its base, while the first 8 shows strong doubling on the surface at the right outside of its upper loop, at the top and right inside of the lower loop, and at the bottom outside of the lower loop. A short die chip at the top left inside of the first 8's upper loop provides an additional diagnostic marker. San Francisco Mint Morgan dollars from 1881 were struck in substantial quantities, yet specific VAM die marriages like the VAM-35 remain scarce because they represent individual die pairings within the broader production run. The strong surface doubling on the first 8 serves as the primary pickup point, as the multiple areas of displacement across the upper and lower loops create a distinctly thickened appearance that differs from the crisp single impression of an undoubled date.

External References