1887 $1 VAM 12, Alligator Eye TOP 100 (Regular Strike)
Series: Morgan Dollars 1878-1921
PCGS MS67
VAM 12 OBVERSE DETAIL
PCGS MS66+
- PCGS #:
- 133910
- Designer:
- George T. Morgan
- Edge:
- Reeded
- Diameter:
- 38.10 millimeters
- Weight:
- 26.73 grams
- Mintage:
- 20,290,000
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- 90% Silver, 10% Copper
- Auction Record:
- $3,760 • MS67 • 08-10-2016 • Heritage Auctions
Die Varieties
- 1887 $1 VAM 1
- 1887 $1 VAM 1, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 1, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 25A, Donkey Tail TOP 100
- 1887 $1 VAM 1A Donkey Tail TOP 100, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 1A Donkey Tail TOP 100, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 1B, Partial E Rev HOT 50
- 1887 $1 VAM 1B Partial E Rev HOT 50, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 1B Partial E Rev HOT 50, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 3
- 1887 $1 VAM 3, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 3, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 4
- 1887 $1 VAM 4, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 4, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 5, Doubled Date TOP 100
- 1887 $1 VAM 5 Doubled Date TOP 100, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 5 Doubled Date TOP 100, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 6
- 1887 $1 VAM 6, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 6, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 7
- 1887 $1 VAM 7, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 7, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 8
- 1887 $1 VAM 8, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 8, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 9
- 1887 $1 VAM 9, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 9, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 10
- 1887 $1 VAM 10, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 10, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 11
- 1887 $1 VAM 11, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 11, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 12, Alligator Eye TOP 100
- 1887 $1 VAM 12, Alligator Eye TOP 100, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 12 Alligator Eye TOP 100, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 13
- 1887 $1 VAM 13, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 13, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 14
- 1887 $1 VAM 14, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 14, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 15
- 1887 $1 VAM 15, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 15, DMPL
- 1887 $1 VAM 16
- 1887 $1 VAM 16, PL
- 1887 $1 VAM 16, DMPL
Condition Census What Is This?
|
#1 MS67 PCGS grade
Heritage 4/2009:3072, $2,013 - Michigan Collection - Bowler Collection - Heritage 8/2016:5343, $3,760 |
| #1 MS67 PCGS grade |
| #1 MS67 PCGS grade |
#4 MS66+ PCGS grade
CullenB Collection (PCGS Set Registry) |
| #4 MS66+ PCGS grade |
| #6 MS66 PCGS grade |
| #6 MS66 PCGS grade |
| #6 MS66 PCGS grade |
| #6 MS66 PCGS grade |
| #6 MS66 PCGS grade |
The 1887 "Alligator Eye" Silver Dollar (VAM 12) is so-named because of the doubled cornea on Liberty's eye. This extra eyelid is known as a nictitating membrane and, in alligators, it serves as a shield for the eye and acts as a goggle when the alligator is underwater. Nictitating membranes are found in many animals, including fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and even some mammals (but not humans). Thus, this variety could just as easily have been called the Aardvark Variety or the Woodpecker Variety, had the namer been so inclined.
This variety is fairly common, with upwards of one thousand examples certified in Mint State.
1887 VAM 12 Alligator Eye Morgan Dollar