1884-CC VAM-4A Spiked Date, Pinned Wing Gouge

Discovered by Earl Young, March 2006. Revised 2007, 2010.
4A (revised) III2 4 · C3a (Spiked Date, Pinned Wing Gouge) (177 ) I-3 R-5
Obverse III2 4- Vertical spike from top of the 1. Some specimens show horizontal spike to left of the lower loop of the first 8. Horizontal die scratch between R & I in PLURIBUS. Later die states have die scratch polished away.
Reverse C3a- Horizontal die gouge thru feathers in eagle's left wing just below neck-wing junction. Horizontal die gouge thru E in STATES.

Comments:
1. There are several minor stages of this reverse. It is actually the exact die used for the entire VAM-3 sequence before it is mated with the VAM-4 obverse.
2. The gouge the the E of STATES is only found on some VAM-4 examples, and fades before the 'pinned wing' gouge of VAM-4A occurs.
3. Note: According to John Roberts, as of July 2012, this study is a work in progress.

Threads:
1. See this discussion thread for Mr. Roberts comments on this series: http://www.vamworld.com/message/view/home/55519902

LVA Plate Photos:

Additional Photos:

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  Die gouge E.

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  Spiked 1 in date.

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  Late die state 4A - Die break has not progressed to 4B die state.

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  Die cracks.