1884-S VAM-4D

Description

Representing a later die state of the VAM-4 die pair, this 1884 San Francisco Morgan Dollar is classified III2 2 with a C3a reverse and distinguished by a small die chip at the front of Liberty's eyebrow — a feature that developed after the die had already produced the earlier VAM-4 states. The "Far Date" positioning inherited from VAM-4 places the date further from the rim than normal, established during die manufacture rather than through wear. Die chips form when localized stress causes a tiny fragment of die steel to fracture and separate, and the eyebrow is a common failure point due to fine detail in that area. The connection to VAM-4.1 is significant: both share the exact same die pair, with -4D representing a later stage of deterioration. This progression from VAM-4 through 4.1 and 4D documents the chronological life of a single die pair as it accumulated damage. Discovered in 2009, this variety contributes to the die-state mapping that makes Morgan Dollar VAM research one of the most granular attribution systems in numismatics. The 1884-S is a key date in the Morgan series, adding desirability to its varieties.

External References