1888-P VAM-2

Description

Among the earliest Morgan Dollar die marriage discoveries, VAM-2 for the 1888 Philadelphia Mint issue was identified by Charles Wallace in February 1959, predating the formal VAM cataloging system that Van Allen and Mallis would publish in 1965. Classified as 2 III2 2 C3a (Near and High Date) with die pair 190, this 90% silver Morgan Dollar features a date set further left and higher than normal, creating a distinctive placement diagnostic in the lower obverse field. The near and high date position means the numerals sit closer to the portrait truncation and elevated relative to standard alignment, producing a visually noticeable shift compared to typical 1888-P specimens. Collectors should not confuse this variety with 1888-P VAM-9, which shares some visual similarities but carries distinct die characteristics separating the two attributions. Wallace's 1959 discovery documents early systematic variety research in the Morgan Dollar series years before the comprehensive VAM reference formalized the classification framework that would eventually catalog thousands of die marriages across all dates and mint marks. =1888-P VAM-2 Near and High Date= Discovered by Charles Wallace, February 1959.

External References