1889-P VAM-1C2

Description

Reinstated by Peter Hohnstein in 2013 after earlier delisting, this 1889 Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar is cataloged as 1C1 III21 - C3a (Die Scratches Below Tail Feathers, Denticle Impressions TF) (190) with an I-2 rarity and R-5 scarcity rating. The reverse shows die scratches below the eagle's tail feathers combined with denticle impressions in the tail feather area — marks left when denticle details from the collar or die rim transferred onto the reverse die surface during production. In the later die state documented here, the denticle impressions have worn away, making this feature visible only on earlier die state specimens. The C3a reverse designation indicates a normal die of the C3 type. The reinstatement by Hohnstein restored this variety to the active catalog after its initial delisting, a process that occurs periodically in VAM research as new evidence supports or contradicts earlier attributions. The 1889 Philadelphia Mint produced approximately 21.73 million Morgan Dollars, one of the higher P-mint totals in the series. The R-5 scarcity rating places surviving examples at roughly 13 to 30 known pieces, indicating that despite the high mintage, this particular die pair produced a limited number of coins before being retired or replaced. Die scratches below the tail feathers serve as clear attribution markers visible under standard magnification.

External References