1886 Morgan Dollar - VAM-14

Description

Tom DeLorey's October 1976 discovery, the 1886 Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar VAM-14 is classified as 14 (revised) III2 14 C3a (Dash Under 8, Doubled Ear Right Inside) with die pair 189 and DPIS C3/B45. Struck in 90% silver, the obverse exhibits a faint dash under the second 8, with the 1 doubled on the bottom of its upper crossbar and the 6 doubled on the top outside. On later die stages the ear shows doubling at the right inside, a progressive diagnostic that emerges as the die wears and earlier hubbing impressions become more visible through metal flow. The dash under the second 8 provides a primary pickup point, while the crossbar doubling on the 1 and top-outside doubling on the 6 offer supplementary confirmation. The die stage progression from undoubled ear to doubled ear at right inside documents how hub doubling diagnostics can evolve across a die's production life. The revised classification reflects updates to the original 1976 designation within the evolving VAM reference system. =1886-P VAM-14 Dash Under 8, Doubled Ear Right Inside= Discovered by Tom DeLorey, October 1976.

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