1879-S VAM Help

not sure about 18A, die polishing lines could be a secondary and definitive interpretaion, however the die caracteristis would have to imply you have the exact same scratches in the exact same locations, 1879-S is a very hard year as many points of interest are just not published, I would take another look at VAM 12A, and take some close up shots,, and make sure they have the same picture line-up/orientation as those on VAM world,, there are some very curved die file lines on the reverse from the slight right-- of the bow into the tail feathers.like die cracks die file lines are like finger prints, take a look and post some pics, tilting the light at different angles will help highlight the lines...G

unfortunately there will always be more things on a coin of interest than what gets posted, as the "rules for die classification
' are those points get the VAM numbers and pictures taken, other features need not: all of the other minor things that can be upon any given coin..posted to determin the given VAM designation....
.in general most of the time polishing lines are not only in one area of the coins OBV or REV surfaces, depending upon the dies combination of dies used in minting any specific coin,. one could have been touched up(file lines? while the other side may never have been touched...its part of the learning curve... they do present themselves at specific angles upon the coiin that can be used as secondary pick up points of interest...in general go by date and mint marks positions, letter transfers and letter doubling for major points of interest , the VW 101 attribution guide is a wonderful place that will explain it in far greater detail than I have time to and they will do it better lol...Check it out...G