1882-P VAM-1

Description

Discovered by Charles Wallace in June 1966, the 1882-P VAM-1 Morgan Dollar is designated "Closed 2" and classified as III2 1 - C3a with a rarity rating of 180. The obverse displays a normal die of the Type III2 with a thick 1 in the date, and the defining characteristic is the "closed 2" — where the top knob and serif of the tail almost touch the curve of the numeral 2, creating a nearly enclosed space at the top of the digit. Some specimens additionally show a die chip between the loops on the left of the first 8 in the date, a progressive die deterioration feature that appears on later strikes from this die. The reverse carries a C3a classification representing a normal die of the C3 type. As VAM-1 for the 1882-P date, this variety holds the foundational position in the catalog — in the VAM system, VAM-1 typically designates the most commonly encountered die marriage for a given date-mint combination, establishing the baseline against which all other VAM numbers for that date are measured and differentiated. The 1882-P Morgan Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of 11,101,100 in 90% silver, weighing 26.73 grams at 38.1 mm diameter. George T. Morgan's designs, with the left-facing Liberty head obverse and the heraldic eagle reverse, provide the design framework. The "Closed 2" feature — a logotype characteristic determined by the specific number punch used in the die — distinguishes this obverse from "Open 2" varieties where the top of the 2 has a wider gap. Charles Wallace's 1966 discovery places this among the earliest documented VAM varieties, predating the formal publication of the comprehensive Van Allen-Mallis catalog.

External References