1890-P VAM-1D

Description

Discovered in 2010 and attributed by VAMWorld, this Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar is designated VAM-1D under Classification 1D III2 1, C3a, with die pair 189. The variety documents Denticle Impressions Above the Olive Branch on the reverse, where two raised triangles and a dot appear above the olive branch, with another small triangle visible on the left side of the top right olive leaf. The lateral spacing between these raised triangular impressions matches the spacing of the denticles around the coin's rim, providing strong evidence that these features resulted from contact between the die face and denticle elements during manufacturing. Polishing lines visible in the wreath bow serve as a die marker for precise attribution. Struck in the standard Morgan Dollar composition of 90% silver and 10% copper, the 1890 Philadelphia issue represents a late Gilded Age production when the silver debates and the upcoming Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 were reshaping American monetary policy. Denticle impression varieties like VAM-1D are a specialized niche within Morgan Dollar collecting, documenting physical evidence of the die preparation process that is otherwise invisible in the finished product. The matching denticle spacing provides the key diagnostic that distinguishes these features from random die damage.

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