1879-O VAM-37

Description

Originally discovered by Mike Emswiler in June 2002 and revised in March 2015 by Brent Fogelberg, the 1879-O VAM-37 Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 27 / C3e (Doubled 8-9, O Tilted Left) with an unassigned die pairing number. The obverse (III2 27) presents the 8 slightly doubled on the surface at the left inside of the upper loop, and the 9 slightly doubled at the left outside of both loops — a doubling pattern where both digits show displacement on their left-facing surfaces, indicating the secondary hub impression shifted rightward relative to the primary. The date exhibits a slight slant with the 9 set higher than the 1, and horizontal polishing lines are visible below the digits 18, documenting die maintenance activity in the date area. The reverse (C3e) features a centered Type II large O mintmark tilted slightly to the left — a hand-punched positional variation where the engraver held the O punch at a minor angle during application to the working die. The 2015 revision by Fogelberg refined the original attribution established by Emswiler, a collaborative evolution typical of the VAM community where new information and better specimens prompt catalog updates. George T. Morgan's design was struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1879, composed of 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1879-O had a mintage of approximately 2.89 million pieces, making it a lower-mintage New Orleans date where die varieties carry additional collecting significance relative to the date's overall scarcity.

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