1897-P VAM-8

Description

First attributed by Bill Deterline in December 1977 and revised in 2009, the 1897-P VAM-8 Morgan dollar holds Hot 50 status — one of fifty Morgan VAMs designated as particularly significant for their visual drama, rarity, or collector demand. The obverse (III2 8) is why: all left stars are strongly doubled toward the rim, and the top edge of the Phrygian cap is doubled. The profile from the LIBERTY band down to the chin is slightly doubled, as are E PLURIBUS UNUM and the tops of the cotton leaves. Very slight doubling affects the bottom outside of the 8 and the top of the 7 in the date. DPIS LH3/RE4 is recorded for this variety. The strong star and cap doubling is detectable at low magnification, making VAM-8 accessible to intermediate collectors comfortable with VAM attribution. The 1897-P is a Philadelphia 90% silver Morgan dollar with a healthy circulated population, keeping acquisition costs manageable. The combination of Hot 50 status, prominent visual doubling, and a reasonable price point has made VAM-8 a perennial target for collectors assembling Hot 50 Morgan sets. 1897-P VAM-8 Doubled Left Stars & Phrygian Cap Top Discovered by Bill Deterline, December, 1977.

External References