1884-S VAM-17

Description

Discovered by Ed Pope in December 2022, the 1884-S VAM-17 Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 8 · C3j (Far Date, Re-engraved Leaves) with die pairing indicated as uncertain. The obverse (III2 8) displays the date set to the right of its normal position — the "Far Date" component of the designation — with diagnostic die markers including diagonal scratches through the ER of LIBERTY and a chip at the bottom edge of the cap ribbon on its left end. These obverse markers provide reliable attribution points because the scratches through LIBERTY lettering and the ribbon chip are precise, locatable features unaffected by die state progression. The reverse (C3j) features an S mintmark centered and upright, accompanied by re-engraved leaves in the left wreath near the N of ONE and the U of UNITED, where die engraving tools were used to sharpen or modify leaf detail on the working die. Reverse die markers include lines visible in the wing-neck gap — the area between the eagle's neck and the upper wing — while the DPIS (Date Position in Shield) is recorded as LE4/RH5. Re-engraved leaves represent intentional die modification rather than accidental variety creation, as a Mint engraver deliberately altered the wreath detail on this specific working die, distinguishing this type of anomaly from hub doubling or die deterioration effects. George T. Morgan designed this silver dollar with its iconic Liberty head and heraldic eagle, struck at the San Francisco Mint in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1884-S had a relatively modest mintage of approximately 3.2 million pieces, making it one of the lower-production San Francisco Morgans of the 1880s. Pope's 2022 discovery demonstrates that new VAM varieties continue to be identified more than a century after these coins were struck.

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