The VAM-9 page has the comment: “LVA has attributed not less than 2 die pairs as VAM-9. (Hence there is a VAM-9.1 & a VAM-9.2).” So, this is understandable, however the ‘catalog’ description on the page is “Obverse III2 9- Date set very further right than normal. Second 8 has dot on surface of right upper loop”. The date description is accurate for both these VAMs however the second 8 dot is only seen on the 9.1 obverse. Not mentioned on the page is that the 9.2 has minor double in the date and that all obverse stars are doubled on all sides.
(Also. could someone fix the description and change it to “very much further” as Leroy’s book states.)
The date position for both VAM-9.1 and 9.2 is the same, Date set much further right than normal (Very Far Date) LE4/RH5.
VAM-9.2 has minor doubling in the date. 1 doubled both sides lower crossbar, both 8s lower left and right bottom of lower loop. 4 top left lower crossbar, both sides back of upper crossbar and front slope
All obverse stars are doubled. I assume two hubs with different star sizes were used as the coin shows doubling on all sides of every star. Also at least one star has a broken tip.
VAM-9.2 description under pictures on the page, “There are several long die scratches around the eye. One pierces the eyelid. Another is in front of the eye. A third is below the eye and worms into the hair.” Pictures from a high grade coin below show additional scratches near the eye so a suggested new description ‘There are three roughly parallel die scratches around the eye. One pierces the eyelid, the next runs mid-eye to nose, the third from bottom of eye to nose. Another die scratch starts below the eye and worms its way towards ear. This scratch has several others descending from it that crisscross one another. There is also a group of die scratches or cracks behind the eye that radiate into the hair. Lower grade coins won’t have much of these markers left. Die scratch behind ear is there as on 9.2 picture but faint.
LIBERTY has two interesting PUPs: A die scratch/gouge starts under the L then goes under IB and weaker unto the E. A die break starts at the tip of the bottom serif of the L then goes over the top of the I and up to the wheat leaf.
Reverse:
Doubled letters UNITED -TA-E- OF AMERICA. Doubled ONE -OLLAR Right star doubled at top. Faint die breaks tops of NITE STAT ME.
Doubled letters In G-d -- tru--
At least one leaf doubled in every wreath cluster and several doubled in Olive Branch Leaves. Wreath bow clear, designer’s initial doubled.
Die scratches in 9.2 picture of Eagle’s left wing are on this coin but hard to see.
So how do we go about creating a new page? It should have new obverse and reverse die numbers as they are different from all the listed 1884-P dies. I see that at least 25 obverses and 3 reverses have been assigned in the series.
So, a possible description (I need help here from the keeper of the catalog) would be:
9.2 III2 26?- C3d? (Very Far Date)
Obverse III2 26?- Date set very much further right than normal, LE4/RH5. Doubled date. All stars doubled.
Reverse C3d?– Doubled letters IN --D -- TRU--. UNITED -TA-E- OF AMERICA Doubled leaves in all wreath clusters and olive leaves.
Comments:
1. VAM-9-1 and 9-2 are both LE4/RH5, Very Far Date. Die breaks at the date differ.
2. The die scratches near the eye will not be visible on lower grade coins, however the doubled stars will be.
Pictures follow, all comments are appreciated.
VAM-9.2
- aM7E 1884-P V9.2 Date Die Craaks .jpg (141.58 KiB) Viewed 1082 times
Very Far Date, LE4/RH5, is the same for both VAM-9.1 & 9.2.
- bM7E 1884-P V9,2 1 .jpg (105.22 KiB) Viewed 1082 times
- cM7E 1884-P V9.2 first 8 .jpg (103.73 KiB) Viewed 1082 times
- dM7E 1884-P V9.2 Second 8 .jpg (104.31 KiB) Viewed 1082 times
- eM7E 1884-P V9.2 4 .jpg (108.85 KiB) Viewed 1082 times
