1893-P VAM-1

Description

Establishing the baseline normal die reference for the 1893-P Morgan dollar, VAM-1 is cataloged as 1 III2 1 · C3a (Normal die) and identifies standard die characteristics for both obverse and reverse. The Obverse III2 1 represents a normal die of the III2 type with one notable feature: an open 3 in the date, where the upper loop of the numeral 3 does not touch the center bar. This open-versus-closed 3 distinction serves as a fundamental classification tool for 1893-P varieties, as different date punches or punching techniques produced varying degrees of closure in the numeral's upper loop. The Reverse C3a is a normal die of the C3 type. George T. Morgan's silver dollar was struck at Philadelphia with a mintage of approximately 378,000 coins in 1893, making it one of the lowest-mintage dates in the entire Morgan dollar series and a coin that commands significant premiums across all grades. The extreme scarcity of the 1893-P — only the 1893-S surpasses it in rarity among circulation-strike Morgan dollars — means that even the VAM-1 normal die pairing represents a coin of considerable numismatic importance. Philadelphia Mint production of fewer than 400,000 pieces would have required only a modest number of working die pairs, limiting the total VAM census potential for this date compared to higher-mintage issues. The open 3 diagnostic provides a readily checkable attribution point: under 10x magnification, the gap between the upper loop and the center bar of the 3 should be clearly visible, distinguishing VAM-1 specimens from any future discoveries that might document a closed 3 variant. DPIS entries and emission sequence data for both dies await further research documentation.

External References