1892-S VAM-1.1

Description

Designated as a Normal Die variety — the baseline die pair against which other 1892-S Morgan Dollar varieties are compared — VAM-1.1 represents the standard configuration for this date and mint. The VAM plate reads 1.1 III2 1 - C3a with die pair 190, establishing the reference within the Van Allen-Mallis system. While labeled "Normal Die," this variety is not entirely featureless: the base of the numeral 2 appears filled in on some specimens, attributed to die fill or grease accumulation rather than deliberate modification. Such fill occurs when debris packs into recessed die areas, preventing features from striking up fully. The mint mark is classified as medium IV S, centered and upright — the Roman numeral indicating a specific size classification for S mint mark variations on Morgan Dollars. The 1892-S occupies the later years of the series, struck as production approached the hiatus beginning in 1904, with output moderately scarce relative to New Orleans and Philadelphia mintages. Cataloged by VAMWorld, VAM-1.1 serves as the foundational reference for all 1892-S die variety comparisons.

External References