1883-P VAM-1F

Description

Discovered in 2014 by the VAMWorld contributor known as pacificwr, the 1883-P VAM-1F carries the formal designation III2 1 paired with reverse C3a and the title "Clashed n," with catalogue identification number 181. The defining characteristic of this variety is a clashed die feature on the obverse: a faint partial incuse letter n — transferred from the word "In" on the reverse die — appears slightly away from Liberty's neck. This clash occurred when the obverse and reverse dies struck together without an intervening planchet, causing the raised n on the reverse die to impact the obverse die surface and leave a shallow incuse impression. On subsequently struck coins, this incuse die mark transfers as a faint raised n visible in the field near Liberty's neck — a subtle feature that requires careful examination under 5x to 10x magnification with angled lighting. A secondary obverse diagnostic is noted on the digit 3, which shows the usual slight doubling at the bottom of the lower loop — a characteristic shared across some 1883-P obverse dies that may reflect a common hub feature rather than individual die preparation. The obverse also carries two tiny shallow die chips at the nostril as a die marker, providing a microscopic attribution checkpoint. Reverse die C3a is classified as a standard reverse without additional diagnostic features. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver and 10% copper at 26.73 grams, the 1883-P Morgan Dollar had a mintage of approximately 12.29 million pieces. The "1F" suffix places this as the sixth documented sub-variety under the VAM-1 die marriage umbrella, reflecting the progressive discovery of additional die states and clash features on this widely available die pairing over the decades of collector examination.

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