I'm not seeing a VAM that corresponds to this 1886-S. Am I missing it? Or did I finally find an undocumented VAM?
I have a feeling it's probably a stain or a piece of debris on the coin. I would poke it with a stick under a stereoscope.
Definitely not any scuz on the coin. At what point does a die chip become a different VAM? Also, the mintmark doesn't seem to correspond to any of the other VAMs for this date (there are only 3 noted on the VAM catalog).
The big picture helps. As strong as that is, I'm thinking it must be some sort of damage to the digit. The date and mint mark position look to match VAM 3, but I don't see the doubling on the bottom of the 1. The S also looks either repunched or damaged.
Sorry, the original picture was with a lo-res burner phone & hand loop (not the best way to obtain results, but what I had available with my dining table covered in wrapping paper/presents). I agree on the S. There are 2 VAMS with repunched or doubled mint marks for this date, but neither quite matches. The doubling all seems to be located in the lower loop of the S. I think the 2nd set of pictures does a better job of showing the clear doubling on the upper arc of the 6. There is also minor doubling under the 1 and the second 8 in the date too. The enclosed loop within the 6 seems a bit misshapen as well (possibly reinforcing your theory of damage to the digit), but I'm unsure what would cause these results.
I'm also curious about the "ray" across Liberty in Liberty's cap. Does this strike you as post mint damage, or something on the die itself? To have created negative space on the coin, with would need to have been raised on the dies. Perhaps from polishing?
My opinion is it's a reasonably circulated and worn VAM-3, not a professional attributeer though. (attributeer, I made that up!) No idea what's up with that 6 besides maybe damage though.
I'm still on VAM 3 possibly late stage if they cleared the die chips out of the top of the 6. whatever is that on the 6 Istill think it's a sort of damage to the number. I think there's some circulation here, which makes it harder. I think the doubling on the bottom of the 1 is there in your pictures, it's very slight to begin with, also the doubling on the 8 is smaller than the area on the one, and also slight, in all the doubling isn't very dramatic. The S is centered, it does tilt left, even looks like the S on VAMworld. ANyways, maybe a fresh pair of eyes will chime in and take a look.
