I am a long time reader and I hope I am not out of bounds here, if I am I apologize, and this post may be removed if deemed inappropriate. I just thought I would share what I have developed and use regarding the topic of “date position” and “mint mark position.” I use the documented first strike coin images as the primary identifier for “standard date position” and “standard mm position.” Since these are the first known struck coins, I use these without regard to other mm styles or sizes. If I encounter different style or size mm's I determine their position off the first strike “standard mm position. By knowing that the denticles are in the die face and not in the collar, their location will not change. However, the count does change from 148 on the obverse and 148 on the reverse in 1878 to 150 on the obverse and 148 on the reverse in 1879 and remains consistent through 1921. If I am wrong I am sure someone will correct me. Here is an interesting note to know, on the Van Allen VAM-9 there are 148 denticles on the obverse and 150 on the reverse. As you will see in the pictures the denticle count does not have any affect on determining the position of the date or mm so long as the quadrants have an equal count and the points are taken off the proper denticle location. It is my opinion, the first strikes set the standards from the beginning, and it is just that, my opinion. I know some members are not fans of lines, but this helps me to eliminate the gray areas of this aspect of VAMing and may help others as well. Again, I just thought I'd share this.
This is how I determine “date position and “mint mark position”
For the obverse (Date):
Part 1) I use what I call the “hourglass triangle” I use it to determine the “date position” meaning centered, left or right off of center.
Part 2) I also use what I call “MSD ring" which is “Motto, Stars, and Date” ring. This ring will determine if the the date is high, low, or has a slant, or if any of the digits are placed high or low.
The 1878 P VAM-9 is the first known Morgan die set. So, since this is the first die set used at the Philadelphia mint, I use the obverse of this coin as the identifier of the “standard date position” the “standard date height” and standard slant. I use this as the standard across the 1878 -1904 P mint series.
- VAN_ALLEN_ANAS-62_Presentation_Coin_1878-P-Ghost_2022.jpg (188.87 KiB) Viewed 1014 times
The 1878 S VAM-60 presentation coin is identified as the “first strike” commemorating the beginning coinage production at the San Francisco mint. Again, since this is a first die set used at the San Francisco mint, I use the obverse of this coin as the identifier of the “standard date position” the “standard date height” and standard slant. I use this as the standard across the 1878 -1904 S mint series.
- 1878_S_V60_PRESENTATION_PIECE_Ghost_2022.jpg (134.76 KiB) Viewed 1014 times
I could not locate any images of a first strike 1878 CC, so I currently use the VAM-11 as the temporary identifier of the “standard date position” the “standard date height” and standard slant. I have employed this as the standard across the 1878 -1885 and 1883 -1889 CC mint series. If anyone can point me in the direction of a CC mint first strike obverse and reverse images it would be greatly appreciated.
- 1878_CC_VAM_11_Ghost_2022.jpg (161.89 KiB) Viewed 1014 times
The First 1879-O Morgan Dollar Struck on an Adjusted Planchet Engraved “THE FIRST DOLLAR ADJUSTED IN THE NEW ORLEANS MINT By MRS. C. CAHN.” Here again, since this is a first die set used at the New Orleans mint, I use the obverse of this coin as the identifier of the “standard date position” the “standard date height” and standard slant. I use this as the standard across the 1879 -1904 O mint series.
- First_Adjusted_O_Mint_1879_O_Ghost_2022.jpg (142.32 KiB) Viewed 1014 times
NOTE: The above mentioned 1878 P, S, and CC and 1879 O all have the same date position.
