Need help identifying an 1878-S Morgan VAM, please...

dsessom · February 16, 2011 8:38AM

I have had this 1878-S Morgan for a while now, and I bought it because the mint mark was very unusual. It seems to be squashed/deformed or doubled or tripled even. I have looked on VAM sites to try and identify it with no luck. At first I though it to be a VAM 17-C or a VAM 17 variant but upon further research it doesn't have the right markers.
Do any of you VAM guys know what it is? Any help is very much appreciated!

If you need more or better pictures, just ask and I will do my best to get you what you need...

DennisH · February 16, 2011 8:45AM

1878-S is a nightmare for attribution; there are over 100 of them and many are very subtle. MessyDesk here on the boards is your best bet, but I suspect he'll need bigger and sharper photos.

coindeuce · February 16, 2011 8:49AM

Pay attention to the primary pickup points first, to get in to the general category of the reverse die. You're

over thinking the significance of the mint mark. Personally, I see it as a result of either having been struck by

a filled die, or it was an errant tool mark left on the die. If you sent this to Leroy unannounced, you would

very likely get admonished by him in a polite manner.

DorkGirl · February 16, 2011 9:13AM

Looks like PMD on the MM to me.

dsessom · February 16, 2011 12:13PM

<< <i>Looks like PMD on the MM to me. >>

THat crossed my mind, but there is no damage in the surrounding area, or anywhere else for that matter. So, I think PMD is probably unlikely. I believe it was minted that way.

messydesk · February 16, 2011 1:02PM

First guess is going to be VAM 42. Is there a little chip above Liberty's eyelid? Many 78-S can be attributed by the area under the eagle's right (viewer's left) wing, the 'r' in "trust," the 4th right star, and Liberty's eye. Take a look at the VAM 42 page on VAMWorld and see if you have a match.

Need help identifying an 1878-S Morgan VAM, please...

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