1900-S VAM-2A

Description

Discovered by Francis Klaes in June 1963, the 1900-S VAM-2A Morgan Dollar carries the revised classification III2 1 - C3b (Extra Arrow Feather Gouge, Circle Scratch Wheat Leaves) with die pairing number 189, as documented by VAMWorld. The obverse (III2 1) exhibits a semi-circle die scratch or impression at the lower right of the wheat leaves in Liberty's wreath — an unusual curved marking that may have originated from contact with a cylindrical tool or die component during manufacture or maintenance. The reverse (C3b) presents a heavy die gouge positioned just above the top arrow feather in the eagle's claw, along with a wide VS-style mintmark set slightly to the right of the standard position. A critical attribution note emphasizes that this is NOT the same die pair as 1900-S VAM-2, despite sharing the same base VAM number — the A suffix designates a distinct die state or die pair variant within the VAM-2 classification family. George T. Morgan's design features Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap surrounded by agricultural motifs on the obverse, with a heraldic eagle holding arrows and an olive branch on the reverse. Struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1900, the coin is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and a reeded edge. The 1900-S had a mintage of approximately 3.54 million pieces, making it a moderately available date in the Morgan series. The combination of the semicircular obverse scratch and the prominent arrow feather gouge provides two strong diagnostic checkpoints that should be examined sequentially when attributing potential specimens — checking the obverse wheat leaf area first, then confirming the reverse feather gouge and mintmark position.

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