1887-P VAM-1G

Description

Discovered by Ben100 in March 2008, the 1887-P VAM-1G Morgan Dollar is cataloged as 1G III2 1 - C3a (Double Die Gouge Olive Branch), a variety defined not by hub doubling but by distinctive die damage features on the reverse. The reverse presents double die gouges across the olive branch below the eagle's left foot, along with a curved die gouge on the second tail feather from the left. These gouges are tool marks — physical damage to the die surface caused during manufacture, preparation, or maintenance — that transferred as raised features on every coin struck from this die. Unlike hub doubling varieties that result from misalignment during the hubbing process, die gouge varieties arise from mechanical contact between the die face and foreign objects or tools, making each gouge pattern unique to its specific working die. A note in the VAM records indicates that this die also has the designer's initial "M" (for Morgan) over-polished on the obverse, meaning aggressive die polishing partially or fully removed the small M that George T. Morgan included at the truncation of Liberty's neck. The Morgan Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint — the original U.S. Mint facility — in 90% silver composition, weighing 26.73 grams at 38.1 mm diameter. The 1887-P is one of the more common Morgan Dollar dates with a mintage exceeding 20 million pieces, which means the large number of working dies employed created numerous opportunities for unique die damage patterns. The double die gouges on the olive branch serve as the primary attribution feature, with the curved gouge on the second tail feather providing confirmation.

External References