1884-P VAM-5

Description

Discovered by Francis Davis in May 1974 and recognized as a Hot 50 Morgan VAM, the 1884-P VAM-5 holds the classification 5 III2 5 C3a, designated Doubled 18 and Ear, with emission sequence 188. The Hot 50 designation marks this as one of the fifty most significant and actively collected Morgan dollar varieties, elevating its desirability well beyond typical die marriages. The obverse die, cataloged as Class III2 5, shows the numeral 1 doubled slightly at the top left and the first 8 doubled at the top left and right outside of its loops. Perhaps more striking is the doubling on Liberty's ear, which displays displacement on the left inside and right outside, creating a noticeably thickened ear profile that serves as a strong visual pickup point even without high magnification. Philadelphia Mint Morgan dollars from 1884 were produced in large numbers, yet the specific die pairing that constitutes VAM-5 is encountered far less frequently. The ear doubling, combined with the date doubling, gives collectors two distinct areas to examine when attributing this variety, and the Hot 50 status ensures sustained collector demand and market recognition.

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