1891-S VAM-18

Description

Discovered by Mel Wadlinger in 2018, the 1891-S VAM-18 is a Morgan dollar variety struck at the San Francisco Mint, designated as Far Date, Doubled Stars, Doubled Ear, Gouge above L. Classified as 18 III2 8 - C3a, this variety combines multiple obverse diagnostics with a progressive reverse die crack. The Morgan dollar was composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and a reeded edge. San Francisco, established during the California Gold Rush and known for its high-quality strike characteristics, produced 5,282,000 Morgan dollars in 1891, a moderate mintage that places the 1891-S in the mid-range of San Francisco Morgan dollar production figures. The obverse die, classified as III2 8, exhibits a far date positioning along with doubled stars and a doubled ear on Liberty's portrait, indicating the obverse hub was impressed at least twice with detectable displacement. The gouge above the L in LIBERTY provides an additional attribution marker beyond the doubling itself. The reverse die, classified as C3a, shows a die crack from the tip of the left wreath extending upward to the eagle's wing, with a later die state developing an additional crack from the bottom of the U in TRUST to the wing. This progressive crack development documents the reverse die's deterioration over its working life, with VAM-9 using a different reverse die for comparison. The DPIS (Date Position in the Guide) is recorded as RH3/LE5, providing precise coordinate measurements for the date's position. An emission sequence note links the obverse die to VAM-9 and VAM-18, confirming the obverse was used with at least two different reverse dies. A cataloging note observes that the mint mark has a very slight tilt to the left, not formally noted in the specification but visible under examination.

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