1879-O VAM-39

Description

Discovered by C. Logan McKechnie in December 2004, the 1879-O VAM-39 Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 29 · C3n (Doubled 1-7, Doubled Left Reverse) with die pairing number 176. The obverse (III2 29) exhibits subtle doubled digits in the date: the 1 is slightly doubled at the bottom of the lower crossbar, and the 7 is doubled at the very top — two isolated but diagnostically specific digit doubling features that require focused examination under magnification to identify. The reverse (C3n) shares the same hub doubling characteristics as the VAM-30 C3i reverse but is paired with a type II O mintmark that is centered and upright, rather than the mintmark variant found on VAM-30. The die marker note identifies polishing lines at the right outside of the wreath bow — linear striations from die maintenance that serve as a reverse die fingerprint. The relationship between VAM-39 and VAM-30 illustrates a fundamental concept in VAM collecting: the same reverse die can appear in multiple die marriages when paired with different obverse dies, creating distinct VAM numbers that share a reverse but differ in their obverse characteristics. George T. Morgan designed this silver dollar, struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1879 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and a reeded edge. The 1879-O had a mintage of approximately 2.9 million pieces — one of the lower New Orleans Morgan mintages, adding relative scarcity to varieties from this date. McKechnie's discovery of this die marriage in 2004 expanded the known die pair population for the 1879-O date, contributing to the comprehensive documentation of New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar production.

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