1879-O VAM-17
ErrorDescription
Discovered by Janis Curiskis in September 1977, the 1879-O VAM-17 is titled Doubled 87 and carries die classification III2 11 with attribution code C3a and die number 176. The obverse shows doubling on both the 8 and 7 of the date: the 8 is doubled slightly at the top outside and left inside of the lower loop, while the 7 is doubled on the right side of the vertical stem. Each digit's doubled impression is independently verifiable, providing two separate confirmation points. The reverse features an oval medium mint mark that is centered and upright — consistent with the New Orleans Mint O used throughout the Morgan Dollar series. The 1879-O was struck at the New Orleans Mint during the second full year of Morgan Dollar production under the Bland-Allison Act. New Orleans issues from the late 1870s are collected for their historical Southern provenance and typically softer strike characteristics compared to Philadelphia production. VAM-17's 1977 discovery places it among the earlier-documented varieties for this date, cataloged during the foundational period of Van Allen-Mallis research.
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