1898-P VAM-2D

Description

Discovered in 2010, the 1898-P VAM-2D Morgan Dollar pairs a closed 9 date style with curved fine die gouges in the field and denticles below right stars 2 through 5. The VAM classification III2 2 - C3a (Closed 9, Die Gouges 2-5 Right Stars) documents both the date punch style and the obverse die damage pattern. The "closed 9" refers to the loop of the digit 9 in the date being fully closed rather than having a gap — a date punch variation that helps identify which punch was used to create the die. The die gouges below the second through fifth right stars trace curved paths through both the field (flat area) and denticles (border teeth), creating a pattern of raised lines on struck coins that serves as a definitive attribution marker. Cataloged by VAMWorld, this variety carries the question-mark rarity indicator "(?)" suggesting either an uncertain rarity assessment or an incomplete census. The 1898 Philadelphia Mint produced 5,884,735 Morgan Dollars, a moderate mintage that places 1898-P in the middle tier of Morgan Dollar dates by production volume. George T. Morgan designed the series' iconic Liberty Head obverse and heraldic eagle reverse, which were used continuously from the series' 1878 debut through its 1921 conclusion. The VAM-2D sub-variety designation builds on the base VAM-2 die marriage, with the "D" suffix identifying a specific die state or additional diagnostic feature that distinguishes it from VAM-2, 2A, 2B, and 2C.

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