1886-P VAM-2

Description

One of the earliest documented varieties in the VAM catalog, this 1886 Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar was discovered by Charles Wallace in February 1959 and is classified as III2 2, C3a with an Open 6 in the date. Die pair 189 produced this 90% silver dollar. The Open 6 refers to a variation in the numeral 6 of the date where the loop does not fully close, creating a visible gap that distinguishes it from the standard closed-6 punch. This variety carries important catalog history: delisting notes indicate it should be delisted, as the Open 6 feature is no longer considered valid criteria for a separate listing under current VAM classification standards. The potential delisting reflects the evolving nature of variety attribution, where criteria that were considered sufficient for catalog inclusion in earlier decades may be reassessed as standards become more rigorous. The 1886-P Morgan Dollar was struck in substantial numbers at Philadelphia. Charles Wallace's 1959 discovery date places this among the foundational VAM attributions, predating the formal Van Allen-Mallis catalog system and representing the early research that eventually grew into the comprehensive VAM reference.

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