1878-CC Morgan Dollar VAM-7A: A Kimpton 12 Clashed Die Rarity

The 1878-CC VAM-7A is a Kimpton 12 Morgan VAM, a designation for rarity and significance. Mark Kimpton discovered it in May 2004. VAMWorld describes it as exceptionally rare and one of the best-kept secrets among rare CC Morgans.

What makes it different

VAM-7A is a later die state of 1878-CC VAM-7. A die clash happens when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them, transferring part of the design from one die to the other. On this coin the transfers are strong.

How to identify it

• Obverse clash marks: a faint partial incuse G of God sits next to Liberty's neck. A partial incuse "st" of Trust shows in the right hair vee of the lower hair edge. The bottom edge of the right wing, from the viewer's left, shows a strong wreath clash. The wing edge is also clashed on the obverse near the chin.

• Neck and G: on the reverse side of the clash, the intersection of the neck and the G is clearly visible.

• Reverse: a normal medium CC reverse.

What buyers and collectors should know

The dramatic clash marks make this one of the hardest CC Morgan die varieties to find. Buyers should verify any claimed example carefully, because clash attribution depends on seeing the exact letters in the exact places. Collectors who follow the Kimpton 12 list will treat it as a centerpiece.

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