1900-P VAM-14A

Description

Discovered by Michael Ash in February 2006, the 1900-P VAM-14A Morgan Dollar carries the classification III212 · C3a (Near Slanted Date, Polished Wheat) with die pairing number 189. The obverse (III212) features a near slanted date with the 1 positioned close to the rim denticles, and heavy polishing lines visible between wheat kernels and leaves plus around the PLURIBUS UNUM letters — extensive die maintenance evidence documenting the mint's efforts to extend this die's service life through aggressive surface treatment. The "Near Slanted Date" designation indicates the date numerals are set closer to the denticles than standard and arranged with a slight angular tilt, a positioning variation that resulted from the hand-placement of date punches into the working die. The reverse (C3a) shows the eagle's left wing over-polished in the center, indicating that both dies in this marriage received polishing treatment. The polished wheat detail on the obverse — with raised lines visible among the wheat kernel and leaf elements surrounding PLURIBUS UNUM — is particularly distinctive, as the wheat ear elements of the design are borrowed from the wreath's botanical decorations and the polishing grooves between these small, repeating forms create a pattern that is both visually unusual and diagnostically reliable. George T. Morgan's design was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1900 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1900-P had a mintage of approximately 8.83 million pieces. The combination of near-date positioning, date slant, extensive obverse polishing through the wheat detail, and reverse wing polishing provides a multi-element diagnostic profile that distinguishes VAM-14A from other die marriages in the 1900-P family.

External References