1882-P VAM-1J

Description

Ronald Gapa identified this Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar variety in December 2014, and it shares its obverse die with VAM-21 — both showing raised metal and polishing lines in the 8s and 2 of the date — but critically lacks the doubled reverse that characterizes VAM-21. This distinction is the essential diagnostic: if the reverse motto and legend letters are not doubled, the coin is VAM-1J rather than VAM-21 despite the identical obverse die. Classified as 1J III2-1 with a C3a reverse, heavy polishing lines in the hair, cap, and inside the ear serve as the primary obverse die marker. The metal-in-date phenomenon occurs when die polishing or lapping fails to completely remove raised material around the date digits, leaving traces of displaced metal on the coin's surface. Collectors should note that the original VAM-1J designation — a collar clash reported by Lance Newman in April 2014 — was reassigned to VAM-1E1, and the current VAM-1J refers exclusively to this Gapa discovery. Understanding the shared obverse lineage with VAM-21 is key to accurate attribution within the 1882 Philadelphia die marriage catalog.

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