1897-P VAM-12
Error
Description
Discovered in December 2011, the 1897-P VAM-12 Morgan dollar is classified as Near Date, Doubled 189. The obverse (III2 11) shows slight doubling on the first three date digits: the 1 has a secondary image below its upper crossbar, the 8 is doubled at the top inside of its upper loop, and the 9 is doubled at the lower inside of its lower loop. Heavy die polishing lines appear in the lower hair and LIBERTY. The date is positioned near the denticles, consistent with the Near Date designation. DPIS B23C is recorded for this variety. This obverse die is shared with two related varieties: the delisted VAM-13 (found to be the same die pair) and VAM-17 (same obverse, different reverse). The 1897-P Morgan dollar, a Philadelphia-struck 90% silver issue, has a strong VAM collector following owing to multiple attributed varieties and the affordability of circulated examples. The polish lines in LIBERTY and the lower hair are visible across a broad range of die states and assist attributors examining coins under direct light, making VAM-12 an approachable variety for intermediate-level Morgan dollar specialists.
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