1878-P Morgan Dollar VAM-14.5 "Spiked A": How to Identify It

The 1878-P VAM-14.5, the "Spiked A," is a Hot 50 Morgan VAM. Steve Sabella discovered it in June 1979, and NGC recognizes it.

What makes it different

A die scratch causes spikes at the sides of the A in STATES on the reverse. That small detail is the key pickup, and it takes magnification to see. The reverse die is shared with VAMs 6, 7, 14.8 and 14.19.

How to identify it

• Reverse: look at the A in STATES for spikes on both sides. The coin can be confused with the more common VAM-7, which also has a die gouge through the A in STATES.

• Obverse: slightly doubled motto letters R-US and UNU, all left stars doubled on the left side, and right stars doubled toward the rim. Every digit of the date is doubled: the 1 at the top of the lower crossbar, both 8s at the lower inside of the lower loop, and the 7 on the left side of the vertical stem. The die was overpolished, leaving a weak nostril and lower hairlines.

What buyers and collectors should know

The source calls the variety quite scarce in circulated grades and unknown in uncirculated, with no problem-free uncirculated coins graded as of 2018. That makes condition a real question: buyers should expect circulated examples and should check carefully for the difference between VAM-14.5 and VAM-7 rather than relying on the spike alone. Collectors working through the 1878-P reverse types will find it a useful reference for how one die scratch creates a collectible identity.

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