Eg, Each year every Morgan dollar was assigned a number for the obverse and a lettering system for the reverse. The numbers and letters changed each time a variety was discovered. Each year started with VAM 1. Normal coin,, no oddities and date in normal position.

Neck vee points between 2 denticles, count denticles to right and normal date starts at 2 1/2 denticles. Now for some VAM #s.
III2 1 obverse C3a reverse Normal coin. VAM 1.
III2 1 obverse C3b reverse This indicates the round O on reverse. VAM 2. VAM 2 can be eliminated because obverse has normal date positioning.
III2 2 obverse C3r reverse 1 in date is doubled & date set farther right than normal. O mintmark doubled. VAM 3.
III2 4 obverse C3a reverse 18 in date is doubled. normal reverse. Vam5.
Your coin.
III2 5 obverse C3a reverse Date set much farther right than normal with a normal reverse. See how the numbering and lettering systems change as varieties are discovered. Couple of pictures to show you the difference in the mintmarks.

Oval O with narrow opening within mintmark.

Round O with wide opening within mintmark. Hope this helps.

Neck vee points between 2 denticles, count denticles to right and normal date starts at 2 1/2 denticles. Now for some VAM #s.
III2 1 obverse C3a reverse Normal coin. VAM 1.
III2 1 obverse C3b reverse This indicates the round O on reverse. VAM 2. VAM 2 can be eliminated because obverse has normal date positioning.
III2 2 obverse C3r reverse 1 in date is doubled & date set farther right than normal. O mintmark doubled. VAM 3.
III2 4 obverse C3a reverse 18 in date is doubled. normal reverse. Vam5.
Your coin.
III2 5 obverse C3a reverse Date set much farther right than normal with a normal reverse. See how the numbering and lettering systems change as varieties are discovered. Couple of pictures to show you the difference in the mintmarks.

Oval O with narrow opening within mintmark.

Round O with wide opening within mintmark. Hope this helps.



















