1898-P VAM-14

Description

Discovered by Fogie in 2018, VAM-14 of the 1898 Morgan dollar is designated III2 14 - C3a as Doubled Right 8. The die pair number is unconfirmed. The obverse III2 14 exhibits slight doubling on the right 8 of the date, with spread visible on the top outside of the upper loop and on the top inside and right outside of the lower loop. The obverse die marker is a diagonal die gouge with die polishing lines inside the ear, combining two distinct diagnostics in one location. The reverse is a standard C3a type, with its own die marker of die polishing lines at the wing-neck gap where the eagle's wing meets the neck. The doubled right 8 provides the primary attribution pickup point, though the subtle nature of the spread — described as slight — means careful examination under magnification is necessary to confirm the doubling versus normal die wear. The 1898 Morgan dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of 5,884,735. Fogie's 2018 discovery makes VAM-14 a relatively recent addition to the 1898 catalog.

External References