1889-CC VAM-4

Description

Discovered by Julian Leidman in July 2003 and revised in 2009, the 1889-CC VAM-4 Morgan Dollar carries the revised classification 4 III2 1 – C3c (CC Tilted Left) with die pairing number 177. The obverse die markers include diagonal polishing lines in the BER of LIBERTY — linear striations from die maintenance filing that cross through three consecutive letters. The reverse (C3c) features Die 2 with a type V CC mintmark tilted slightly to the left in a similar position to the VAM-3 C3c reverse, with multiple fine polishing lines and pitting roughness visible in the eagle's neck-wing gap serving as the reverse die marker. The CC mintmark tilt is diagnostically significant because Carson City mintmarks were hand-punched as two separate C letters, and the leftward tilt documents the specific angular orientation the engraver achieved when positioning the combined mintmark punch into this particular working die. The 1889-CC Morgan Dollar is among the premier key dates in the entire Morgan Dollar series, with a mintage of only approximately 350,000 pieces from the Carson City Mint in Nevada — a branch mint established in 1870 near the Comstock Lode silver deposits to convert locally mined silver into coinage. George T. Morgan's design was struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 2009 revision to the classification reflects the VAM catalog's ongoing refinement process, and the similarity in mintmark position to VAM-3 C3c noted in the description suggests these two reverses may share common characteristics while being distinguished by the specific die markers in the neck-wing gap and other secondary features. Given the 1889-CC's key-date status and substantial market value, accurate VAM attribution requires careful verification of both the diagonal polishing lines in LIBERTY on the obverse and the pitting roughness pattern on the reverse.

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