1898-S VAM-17A

Description

Eliminated from the active VAM catalog in December 2017, this variety was reclassified as VAM-22A after researchers determined the die characteristics matched those already documented under that number. Originally discovered by John Coxe in October 2014, the variety showed a far date set further right than standard, a doubled ear at the right inside, and an S mintmark set to the right. Diagonal polishing lines at the upper hair curl provided additional die markers. The reclassification to VAM-22A consolidated two listings that described the same die, removing a duplicate from the San Francisco 1890 Morgan Dollar catalog. Collectors who previously attributed coins to VAM-39 should update their records to VAM-22A for current accuracy. The elimination process is ongoing in VAM scholarship, where independent discoveries occasionally converge on the same die from different attribution angles, and subsequent comparison reveals duplication. The 1890-S Morgan Dollar was produced during the final years of the Bland-Allison Act. The doubled ear feature remains a valid diagnostic under the surviving VAM-22A designation, alongside far date positioning and rightward S mintmark placement. =1898-S VAM-17A Near Date, Doubled Ear, S/S Tilted right Near Date, Break in Lower Hair= Discovery 2011 Mitch Hill 9/23/11 17 III2 11 - C3j (Near Date, Doubled Ear, S/S Tilted right Near Date, Break in Lower Hair) (187) Obverse III2 11 - Horizontal die crack in lower hair with breaks above right 8 DPIS - ;Emission Sequence :Obverse: :Reverse: Comments:

External References