1880-S Reverse of 1879

[Unc90o]

Recently, Vam-mysterio had done a lot of die study which resulting many new 1879-S discoveries. One of them is 79S VAM-18B which shared rev die with 79S VAM-85 and with further collaborated study... also shared with 80S VAM-45A .

Imo, this got to be the coolest news I've heard in a long time. Yes, there are other known VAM of reverse die being used from prior year, but this 1880-S VAM-45A is the first confirmed example for 80-S.

According to the Annual Reports of the Director of the Mint, there were 110 die pairs made for 1880-S. With an average of 160,000 struck coins per die, that's about double the amount of dies needed to struck the 8,900,000 coins. Just my assumption, perhaps the Mint only struck about 80,000 coins for each dies; which might explain why most 80S were nicely struck with hardly any die crack, worn die, etc. But, what was the reason for SF Mint to reuse rev die from 1879?

Are there any more 80S rev 79 die pair beside this?
Who wants to do 80S die study? The door is wide open .

[crabscrape]

Nico, U are the man for the job! I am sure you will do and excellent job in the study!

[morganman]

Sure wish some member/members would do a 1882 O die study
as a lot of great info/new stuff would surly surface
In past no one seemed intersted and im the furthest from capable to
even know where to start, let lone having any patience for details

neat to see 1880 S getting some attention

[Vam-mysterio]

I suspect
Same thing might have happened at the philly mint

[RogerB]

This quote (January 12, 1882) from my article in the Longacre Ledger might help:

"Prior to the last calendar year, it had been the custom of the Mint at Philadelphia to furnish the other Mints with dies of such denominations and in such numbers as requisitions were made for, and as it was usual for the Mints to keep a supply of dies on hand, some of the reverse dies might not be used for several years. No means therefore existed for knowing whether all the dies sent from your Mint, were used or destroyed."

[Article is titled: "Little Letter Explains a Lot," Longacre Ledger. ]

[Unc90o]

Roger - thank you for the research.
In this instance, it still doesn't explain why the S mint were reusing the old 79S rev die when they have so many new dies.

[RogerB]

They simply did not pay attention - they were under pressure to strike silver dollars and did so with whatever usable dies they had. Expediency.