Owner Comments:
1904-S NGC MS65 PL VAM-8 *DISCOVERY COIN*
A notorious prooflike key for the series in gem condition. It is tied with 4 others for the finest graded by NGC.
This is the discovery coin for VAM-8, the key variety as R-5 for the date. It is characterized by the III2-2 DDO far date obverse paired with the C4/C3c reverse, that has a doubled left wing and arrows and, of course, two olives.
Notable diagnotics for the die state of this VAM are in the reverse die polishing. There are plainly visible polish lines in the eagle's tailfeathers. A heavy bar exists just above the normal bar in the "A" of "DOLLAR". Most significant though is that the upper part of the "e" in the "In God We Trust" motto is completely filled due to aggressive overpolishing there.
Prooflike Condition Census (date): 1 x 66PL(P), 2 x 65PL(P), 5 x 65PL(N), 1 x 64DM(N), 10 x 64PL(P), 8 x 64PL(N)