1898-P VAM-2E

Description

Discovered in 2012 by Doug Bindner, the 1898-P VAM-2E Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 2 - C3a with die pairing number 189 and the designation "Closed 9, Die Scratches Cheek." The obverse (III2 2) exhibits two long diagonal die scratches crossing Liberty's cheek in front of the ear — prominent linear marks that are among the most visually striking die markers in the VAM catalog, as they traverse a large, uncluttered area of the portrait where their presence is immediately noticeable. The "Closed 9" component of the designation describes the specific form of the numeral 9 in the date 1898, where the loop of the 9 is more fully closed than the normal open-loop version, a subtle but measurable difference in the digit's typography that reflects variation in the hub or punch that produced the date. VAMWorld commentary from Leroy Van Allen (LVA) notes that this die has "unlisted two long die scratches across cheek" and further observes that the "date at left edge of normal lateral position — left side of 1 base not yet over denticle space, so not a near date" — a precise positional assessment placing the date at the leftward boundary of normal placement without qualifying it as a diagnostically significant "near date" variety. The Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan and struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1898 from 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1898-P had a mintage of approximately 5.88 million pieces, a relatively moderate production figure for the series. The two cheek scratches serve as the primary visual signature for this variety — their diagonal orientation, crossing the smooth field of Liberty's cheek at an angle to the portrait's vertical axis, makes them easily distinguishable from the fine parallel die polishing lines that sometimes appear in similar locations on other dies.

External References