1890-CC VAM-1A

Description

Discovered by Jeff Oxman in February 2005, this 1890-CC Morgan Dollar presents an unusual variety type — an edge anomaly rather than the typical obverse or reverse die characteristics that define most VAM attributions. The reeding on the coin's edge shows slight overlapping at the 5 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions, spanning four and eight segments respectively, with extra bars appearing in the spaces between the normal reeding. This overlapping pattern suggests that the edge die (or collar) that forms the reeding during striking had a manufacturing irregularity — either from misaligned collar segments or from a collar that was slightly oversized, allowing the planchet to shift during the strike. The obverse and reverse dies are classified as normal, placing the full variety attribution on the edge — a feature that can only be examined by viewing the coin from the side rather than face-on. Carson City Morgan Dollars carry a persistent premium among collectors due to the mint's limited production years (1878-1885 and 1889-1893) and romantic association with the Comstock Lode silver mining era. Edge varieties like VAM-1A add a third dimension to the study of CC-mint Morgans.

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