1885-P VAM-1I

Description

Discovered by Pat Mullen in 2010, the 1885-P VAM-1I is a Morgan dollar variety designated as Die Gouges PLURIBUS. Classified as 1I III21 C3a with a population reference of (189), the obverse (III21) displays a series of die scratches and gouges above the letters of PLURIBUS: short thin die scratches at the top right of the P and L, short die gouges in the denticle space above the R, marks at the top right of I and top of S, plus a thin die scratch at the top left of U. These carefully documented die surface anomalies serve as the defining characteristics of this die variety, representing either intentional die preparation marks or accidental surface damage that occurred during the die's production life. The 1885-P Morgan dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams at 38.1 mm diameter. Philadelphia produced 17,787,767 Morgan dollars in 1885, a substantial mintage that occurred during the height of mandated silver dollar production under the Bland-Allison Act and subsequent legislation requiring the Treasury to purchase and coin silver. George T. Morgan's design, featuring Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap adorned with wheat and cotton on the obverse and a heraldic eagle with olive branch and arrows on the reverse, has become one of the most iconic designs in American numismatics. The VAM-1I designation, as a sub-variety of VAM-1, indicates this represents a die state or die characteristic variation on the primary die marriage rather than a distinct doubled die or repunched date variety, focusing instead on the die surface anomalies above PLURIBUS as the distinguishing feature.

External References