1885-P VAM-1D

Description

Designated a WOW! Morgan Dollar VAM, this 1885 Philadelphia Mint variety stands among the most visually dramatic entries in the entire VAM catalog. Discovered by Mark Kimpton in March 2003, VAM-1D is classified as 1D III2 1, C3a, with die pair 188, described as Banded Wing Tip. The obverse carries a tiny faint thin short dash well below the second 8. The reverse is where the WOW! designation is earned: raised parallel bands extend from the eagle's right wing tip and the D in UNITED outward to the rim, with some polished surfaces between the bands. These raised parallel bands were caused by feed finger gouges on the die, where the mechanical fingers that fed planchets into the coining press left linear impressions on the die face that transferred as raised features to struck coins. A die gouge at the bottom outside of the eagle's right wing provides an additional marker. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, the 1885 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar saw moderate production during mandated silver dollar coinage. The WOW! designation highlights varieties with exceptional visual impact, and the dramatic banded wing tip effect fully justifies its inclusion in this elite category.

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