The 1891 “Doubled Ear”: A Top 100 VAM

Numerous Van Allen and Mallis (VAM) Morgan dollar varieties have colorful nicknames, many of which describe distinctive features of the bust of Liberty on the obverse: “Alligator Eyes,” “Hot Lips,” and “Scar Faces” all describe Liberty’s famous visage. At first blush, the 1891 VAM-2’s “Doubled Ear” is not quite as interesting as these facial features (though a “Doubled Ear” is certainly dramatic—sufficiently so to earn it a spot in the Top 100 VAMs). However, in a later die state, it appears that Liberty stopped shaving. A small die break near Liberty’s upper lip resembling a mustache appears in the die state identified as VAM-2A. VAM-2B, an earlier die state that was discovered nearly a quarter-century after 2A, includes a clash mark. This short piece will deal with all three varieties. 

The 1891 “Doubled Ear” VAM-2

Bill Fivaz—an expert on U.S. die varieties and a coauthor of the Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins—discovered 1891 VAM-2, known as the “Doubled Ear,” in 1973. VAMWorld, a website dedicated to cataloging and researching VAM varieties, describes the doubling: “Ear strongly doubled at bottom and halfway up side. Hair strongly doubled just above the ear. Small die chip on forehead just in front of the hairline.”

VAM-2A Die State

In April 1980, a VAM researcher named Steve Sabella discovered a later obverse die state of the 1891 VAM-2. Cataloged as VAM-2A, the coin features the distinct doubling of the VAM-2 with two new features. The dies clashed at some point between VAM-2 and VAM-2B (more on that below), resulting in a small incuse “N” from the word “IN” in the motto in front of Liberty’s neck on the obverse. VAMWorld offers this description: the variety “shows the same doubling of the lower earlobe on the obverse. A small die break occurred on Liberty’s upper lip and can be seen as a ‘moustache’ shape.” Examples with the full mustache break command higher premiums than those with only a partial break, per VAMWorld. This variety became popular over the last four decades, making the Top 100 and WOW! VAMs lists. 

VAM-2B Die State

There is an intermediate die stage of the VAM-2 marriage before the growth of the mustache and before it becomes VAM-2A. Mark Kimpton, author of the 2005 book Elite Clashed Morgan Dollars, discovered VAM-2B in 2004. This variety has the doubling of the VAM-2 and the N-shaped clash mark of the 2A without the mustache-shaped die chip. VAMWorld describes it thusly: “Clashed die w/ partial incuse n of In from reverse next to Liberty’s neck. Earlier die state than 1891-P VAM-2A w/ die break mustache but reported later.”

Popularity and Certified Examples

All three varieties are listed in the Top 100 Morgan Dollar VAMs as entry number 74. The VAM-2A is a WOW! VAM: VAMs deemed “truly spectacular” by the cognoscenti. The VAM-2A is the rarest of the three. 

In a 2011 Coin World “About VAMs” column, John Roberts, ANACS’s director of attribution, describes the changing state of the mustache portion of the obverse die: “The progressive breaking that forms the ‘mustache’ begins with a faint crack under the nostril. This die crack was quickly followed by a short and narrow vertical break in the same location.” 

These noted varieties are attributed by the third-party grading services. In its population report, Professional Coin Grading Service records 253 grading events for VAM-2 and 102 for VAM-2A. Of these, 12 reported VAM-2s have Deep Mirror Proof Like (DMPL) contrast and 2 have Proof Like (PL) contrast. Numismatic Guaranty Company’s census reports 243 grading events for VAM-2, with 11 for an Early Die State VAM-2A, 29 for Late Die State VAM-2As, and 61 VAM-2Bs. ANACS reports 531 grading events for VAM-2, plus 10 DMPL examples and 5 PL examples of that variety, with 47 VAM-2As and 64 VAM-2Bs. 

None of the three varieties are listed in the Cherrypickers’ Guide.