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1878-S Morgan Dollar - Mint Mark Question

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United States
291 Posts
 Posted 12/11/2025  12:20 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add rlu7732 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I have this Morgan dollar and was wondering why the mint mark looks like this. Is this a VAM feature or something else?

1878-S-Morgan-Dollar---Mint-Mark-Question
1878-S-Morgan-Dollar---Mint-Mark-Question
1878-S-Morgan-Dollar---Mint-Mark-Question
Valued Member
United States
250 Posts
 Posted 12/11/2025  2:32 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Jimbo48 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I see some Strike Doubling on the reverse which could distort the S. I have to admit it is really distorted. The A in states has a broken left leg, which I did not see on any examples of this date and mint. I hope others have more insight.
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fortcollins's Avatar
United States
3628 Posts
 Posted 12/11/2025  3:29 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add fortcollins to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
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.
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United States
291 Posts
 Posted 12/11/2025  4:46 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add rlu7732 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks guys, this gives me some direction to look more into!
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Errers and Varietys's Avatar
United States
73756 Posts
 Posted 12/11/2025  4:50 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Errers and Varietys to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Very interesting.
Errers and Varietys.
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jbuck's Avatar
United States
187702 Posts
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-makecents-'s Avatar
United States
8732 Posts
 Posted 12/12/2025  08:28 am  Show Profile   Check -makecents-'s eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add -makecents- to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here is the mm guide. https://vamworld.com/wiki/NEW!_1878...ntMark_GUIDE

And the Money Shots Guide. https://vamworld.com/wiki/1878-S_Money_Shots_Guide

You have the coin in hand, so maybe these will help you narrow it down. You can of course eliminate the long nock VAMs.
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Dearborn's Avatar
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