1901-P VAM-22

Description

Formerly cataloged as VAM-2A and reported in August 2010, the 1901-P VAM-22 Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 1 - C4/C3k (2 Olive Reverse, Reverse Die Gouges) with die pairing number 189. The reverse (C4/C3k) presents the variety's most distinctive feature: an extra olive appearing to the right of an olive connected to the olive branch — a design anomaly where an additional berry or fruit element is visible in the wreath that does not appear on normal reverse dies. Additionally, the reverse exhibits slight doubling on the right side of the eagle's nostril and eye, and on the right two innermost right wing feathers next to the leg, plus diagonal die scratches and gouges concentrated around NE of ONE and DO of DOLLAR. The doubled C4 classification combined with the C3k normal-die-variant notation reflects the complexity of this reverse die's anomalies — it carries both an extra design element (the olive) and subtle hub doubling on the eagle's facial features, plus die surface damage in the form of scratches and gouges. The original VAM-2A designation was reassigned to VAM-22 during the catalog's ongoing revision process, which periodically renumbers and reorganizes varieties as new discoveries expand the 1901-P die variety population. George T. Morgan's design was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1901, composed of 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1901-P had a mintage of approximately 6.96 million pieces. The extra olive on the reverse wreath is an unusual variety type within the VAM catalog — most Morgan Dollar varieties involve date or mintmark anomalies rather than additions to the design's botanical elements.

External References