1890-P VAM-17

Description

Discovered by Marc Serafine in January 2001, the 1890-P VAM-17 Morgan Dollar carries the classification III217 · C3b (Doubled Ear Right Inside, Doubled Reverse Legend, Slanted Date) with die pairing number 190. The obverse (III217) presents three distinct diagnostic features: slight doubling of the lower right inside of Liberty's ear, a slanted date where the 0 is set higher than the 1, and the ear doubling that gives the variety its primary name. The slanted date — with the terminal digit elevated relative to the initial digit — indicates the four-digit date logotype contacted the die at a slight angle during the hubbing process, tilting the baseline of the date upward from left to right. The reverse (C3b) shows slight doubling of the bottom inside of UNITED STAT and the left star toward the rim, providing reverse-side confirmation points that complement the obverse diagnostics. The Morgan Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1890 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. George T. Morgan's design was entering its thirteenth year of continuous production during the height of Gilded Age silver dollar coinage under the Bland-Allison Act. The 1890-P had a substantial mintage. The three-component designation — doubled ear, doubled reverse legend, and slanted date — creates a comprehensive attribution framework where collectors can approach identification from either the obverse (ear doubling and slanted date) or the reverse (legend doubling near the rim), building confidence through independent verification across multiple design elements on both sides of the coin. Serafine's 2001 discovery contributed to the ongoing expansion of the 1890-P die marriage catalog.

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