1891-S VAM-29

Description

Reported in August 2025 by Michael Gaule, the 1891-S VAM-29 represents one of the more recently cataloged additions to the San Francisco Morgan dollar die marriage listings. Classified as III2 15 with a C3o reverse, this variety is defined by a far date position and a high S mint mark. The S sits noticeably above its standard placement and stands upright, with the upper serif showing slight repunching on its right side, a feature visible under moderate magnification that suggests the mint mark punch was applied more than once during die preparation. Along the bottom edge of the lower arrow shaft, slight doubling can be detected, adding a secondary diagnostic element to the reverse attribution. Two key die markers anchor authentication: a pair of horizontal lines at the top of the wreath bow, and a set of lines visible in the gap between the eagle's wing and neck. The die pair information system records position values of LE4/RH5. The 1891-S had a mintage of 5.296 million pieces, a moderate figure for the Morgan series. Gaule's discovery adds to the growing body of late-cataloged VAMs that continue to expand the 1891-S die marriage inventory well into the 21st century.

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