1880-O VAM-12

Description

Discovered by Bill Fivaz in January 1974 — co-author of the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties — the 1880-O VAM-12 Morgan Dollar carries the classification III29 - C3a (Doubled 1-80) with no assigned die pairing number listed. The obverse (III29) exhibits doubling across three date digits: the 1 is doubled on the surface at the top right of the vertical shaft; the second 8 is doubled at the lower left outside of the upper loop; and the 0 is doubled at the top left and right outside and at the top left of the opening. This three-digit doubling pattern, each showing displacement at slightly different positions on the respective numerals, documents the hub shift vector as it interacted with the varying geometries of each digit's curves and straight elements. The reverse (C3a) features a Round I O mintmark positioned centered and upright, with die polishing lines visible in the center of the wreath bow and to the right of the bow in the wreath leaves — maintenance marks that help distinguish this reverse die from others in the 1880-O population. George T. Morgan's design was struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1880, composed of 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. Fivaz's discovery of this variety in 1974, combined with his subsequent co-authorship of the Cherrypickers' Guide with J.T. Stanton, positions this as one of the varieties documented by one of the field's most influential attributors during the formative period of modern die variety study.

External References