1889-P VAM-5D

Description

Discovered in 2012 and attributed by VAMWorld, this Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar carries the VAM-5D designation under Classification 5D III2 5, C3a, with die pair 190. The variety is characterized as a Far Date with Denticle Impressions Below Arrow Feathers, documenting an unusual manufacturing anomaly on the reverse. A partial raised bar appears at the edge of the field below the arrow feather, accompanied by a small raised triangle to the right in the field, with the spacing between these raised features matching the lateral spacing of the denticles around the rim. This denticle-spacing correspondence strongly suggests these impressions originated from contact with the rim denticles during die preparation or an adjacent die surface. A die gouge at the bottom outside of the eagle's right wing serves as an additional die marker for attribution. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, the 1889 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar saw substantial production as the Bland-Allison Act continued to mandate silver dollar coinage. Denticle impression varieties are relatively uncommon across the Morgan Dollar series and represent a distinctive class of die anomaly that documents the physical contact events during the die-making process.

External References