1886-P VAM-8

Description

Reported in 2008, VAM-29 on the 1885 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar is distinguished by a high-set dash positioned left under the 8 of the date, paired with a far date placement that sets the numerals further right than standard. The dash — a short horizontal die mark at the bottom outside of the right 8 — provides the primary diagnostic, while the far date position offers a secondary criterion visible without magnification on well-preserved specimens. Additional die markers include a die chip in Liberty's hair near the neck and on the cheek. The term "High Dash Set Left" in the VAM designation describes both the dash's vertical position relative to the 8 and its lateral placement, encoding precise positional data for attribution. Dashes near date digits on Morgan Dollars typically originate from die finishing processes or stray tooling marks, and their exact position relative to surrounding elements serves as a fingerprint for the individual die. The 1885 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar was produced during a period of relatively lower mintage compared to some other years, and thorough die-variety documentation has generated an extensive catalog for this date. =1886-P VAM-8 Far Date, High 6= Discovered by Edwin Miller, January 1970.

External References