1900-P VAM-5B

Description

Discovered by Leroy Van Allen in September 2006, VAM-5B of the 1900 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar is classified as 5B III24 C3a and described as a "(Very) Near Date, Die Break Left Wreath" variety. The reverse carries a C3a die — distinguished by a die break on the center leaf in the left wreath, positioned opposite the I in UNITED. This die break represents progressive die failure where metal fatigue caused a portion of the die face to fracture, resulting in a raised irregularity on struck coins that collectors can identify without magnification on well-preserved examples. The "very near date" obverse classification (III24) refers to the positioning of the date numerals relative to the bust and rim, a diagnostic used to differentiate among the multiple obverse dies employed for the 1900 Philadelphia issue. Morgan Dollars from the turn of the century were produced in enormous quantities — Philadelphia alone struck millions in 1900 — yet individual die pairings and progressive die states like VAM-5B provide collectors with meaningful distinctions within these large production runs.

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