1887-S VAM-9

Description

Discovered by Jeff Oxman in December 1997, VAM-9 on the 1887-S Morgan dollar is cataloged as 9 III27 C3a (Doubled Stars and Profile, Near Date) with die pair number 186. The obverse die, designated III27, exhibits two distinct categories of doubling: all left-side stars show slight doubling toward the rim, and Liberty's profile is slightly doubled from the forehead down through the neck. This combination of star and portrait doubling indicates a hub displacement that affected design elements at different distances from the die center, with the stars near the rim showing more pronounced displacement than the central portrait — consistent with rotational or tilting hub motion during the impression. The date is set further left than normal, qualifying this as a "near date" variety within the VAM classification framework. Jeff Oxman, one of the foremost Morgan dollar researchers, has contributed numerous discoveries to the VAM catalog, and his attribution of VAM-9 followed rigorous comparison against all previously documented 1887-S die pairings. The C3a reverse classification indicates a standard reverse without distinctive characteristics. San Francisco struck over 1.77 million Morgan dollars in 1887, a low mintage that makes the date somewhat scarce in all grades and adds a supply constraint to the already limited population of this specific die pairing. Collectors should examine the left-side stars under 10x magnification, looking for rim-ward displacement.

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