This looks like "S" mint mark on the reverse die that was used on 1878-S VAM-78, VAM-98, VAM-127, VAM-128, VAM-129, and VAM-130. I can only find whole-reverse photos for VAM-127 and VAM-128, and the "A" was intact on VAM-127, and slightly broken on VAM-128. It might be worth trying to find VAM-129 and VAM-130 reverse photos to see if they match the broken "A" in STATES.
That's the best I can offer here.

That's the best I can offer here.

























