1890-CC VAM-6

Description

One of the earliest documented VAM varieties on the 1890-CC Morgan Dollar, VAM-6 was discovered by Leroy Van Allen himself in May 1973 — a discovery by the co-creator of the VAM attribution system that lends this variety particular historical significance within the Morgan Dollar collecting community. The formal designation is III2 4 paired with reverse C3f, bearing the title "Doubled 18" and representing a clear-cut case of date repunching where the digits 1 and 8 both show secondary impressions from the logotype being punched into the die at least twice. The 1 is doubled strongly across its top — the secondary horizontal element of the serif is clearly visible above the primary impression — while the 8 shows slighter doubling confined to its top, where a faint secondary curve traces just above the upper loop. The reverse die C3f carries its own distinctive doubling: the first C in the CC mintmark shows doubling with a vertical spike to the left of the top serif and a short curved line at the lower left inside of the opening. This mintmark doubling represents separate repunching on the reverse die, making VAM-6 a variety with confirmed repunching on both sides of the coin — the date on the obverse and the mintmark on the reverse. The Carson City Mint's 1890-CC Morgan Dollar, struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams, had a mintage of approximately 2.31 million pieces — a relatively modest figure that makes all CC-mint Morgan varieties inherently more scarce than their Philadelphia or New Orleans counterparts. The pedigree of Van Allen's personal discovery, combined with the dual-sided repunching diagnostics, positions VAM-6 as a foundational variety in the 1890-CC reference catalog.

External References