1889-S VAM-9

Description

Martin Field discovered this Morgan Dollar variety in October 1980, identifying a far slanted date on the obverse. Classified as III2 6 - C3a with die pairing number 184, the obverse die (III2 6) shows the date set further right than normal and slanted, with the 9 positioned farther from the rim than the other date digits. This combination of rightward displacement and clockwise tilt creates a visually distinctive date configuration that can be identified under moderate magnification by comparing the relative positions of the date numerals to each other and to the rim denticles. Date position varieties are foundational to VAM collecting because the date and mintmark were hand-punched into each individual working die before 1909, making every die unique in these characteristics. The "far slanted date" on VAM-9 suggests the die sinker who punched this particular obverse die held the date logotype at a slight angle during the process, or the sequence of individual digit punches was not perfectly aligned. San Francisco struck approximately 700,000 Morgan Dollars in 1889, making it one of the scarcer dates in the series and ensuring that any attributed VAM variety carries the premium associated with the low overall mintage. The reverse is classified as C3a, indicating a standard die pairing. Field's October 1980 discovery occurred during the early expansion of systematic VAM research, and the far slanted date provides one of the more accessible diagnostic categories for collectors new to San Francisco Morgan Dollar variety attribution.

External References