1892-S VAM-11

Description

Discovered in 2009 and cataloged by VAMWorld, the 1892-S VAM-11 documents a dramatic date positioning anomaly where the top of the numeral 2 in the date appears within the denticle space as a raised curved bar — evidence that the date punch was set unusually high, placing the top of the 2 among the border denticles that ring the coin's obverse. Classified as 11 III2 7 - C3a (2 in Denticles) with an unassigned rarity rating, this variety pairs Obverse III2 7 with the standard C3a reverse type. The date position is described as being at the right edge of the normal lateral position, indicating that while the horizontal placement was near-normal, the vertical placement was abnormally high. Denticles — the small tooth-like raised elements along the inner rim border of Morgan Dollars — serve as a reference frame against which date positioning anomalies become measurable: when a numeral's top extends into the denticle space, it indicates the date punch was driven deeper or positioned higher than intended. The 1892-S Morgan Dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint with a mintage of 1,200,000 — relatively modest compared to Philadelphia and New Orleans output — making die varieties on this date inherently scarcer in absolute terms. The DPIS reference remains unassigned, and the lack of a confirmed rarity rating (marked with ?) suggests the variety's population had not been sufficiently surveyed at the time of cataloging. VAMWorld's documentation of this 2009 discovery expanded the 1892-S variety listing and drew attention to date positioning as a diagnostic category that can produce visually dramatic varieties even within the tightly controlled die-making process of the late nineteenth century.

External References