1901-S VAM-13

Description

Discovered by prolific modern VAM researcher Brian Raines in July 2009, this 1901-S Morgan Dollar variety preserves distinctive doubled hair above Liberty's ear — a diagnostic that requires careful examination but rewards the attentive collector. VAM plate notation 13 III2 6 - C3a classifies obverse die III2 6, which exhibits the edge of hair above the ear doubled along with a slightly doubled eyelash featuring a short spike at the eye front. The eyelash spike is a particularly distinctive secondary marker, providing an additional attribution point beyond the primary hair doubling. The 1901-S is a better date in the Morgan Dollar series, and die varieties on better dates carry enhanced collector appeal due to the inherently smaller surviving population. Brian Raines has contributed numerous VAM discoveries across multiple Morgan Dollar dates, and his identification of the doubled hair and eyelash spike on this die pair added an important entry to the 1901-S catalog. Reverse die C3a completes the pairing, with the combination of hair doubling and eyelash spike providing two distinct obverse diagnostics.

External References