1888-S VAM-7

Description

Martin Field identified this variety in February 1980, and VAM-7 on the 1888-S Morgan Dollar has since been cataloged under the formal designation 7 III2 5 with reverse die C3a and the title "Doubled 18-8," with a secondary identification number of 187. The obverse die III2 5 exhibits doubled digits in the date across three numerals: the 1 and first 8 show slight doubling at their very bottom outside edges, while the last 8 displays doubling at the top outside of its upper loop. This pattern — light spread at the extremities of the date digits — is consistent with a minor hub shift between impressions where the displacement vector ran roughly vertically, affecting the outermost contours of each numeral's curves while leaving the interior strokes relatively clean. Identifying the doubling on the first 8 requires careful scrutiny at 10x or higher magnification, as the spread at the bottom outside edge is subtle and can be confused with die wear or strike softness if lighting is not optimized. The catalogue notes that the date does appear slanted on this die, but it is not officially listed as a slanted date variety — an important distinction for attributors, since slanted date classifications in the VAM system carry specific angular thresholds that this die's date tilt does not meet despite its visual suggestion of a lean. The reverse C3a designation indicates a normal die of the C3 type, bearing a medium IV S mintmark that is centered and upright between the wreath branches. Struck at the San Francisco Mint during the Gilded Age peak of Morgan Dollar production, the 1888-S carried a mintage of approximately 657,000 pieces — one of the lower San Francisco outputs for the series, lending inherent scarcity to every die marriage from this date including this VAM-7 pairing.

External References