1880-O VAM-24A

Description

Discovered by John Coxe in November 2006, the 1880-O VAM-24A Morgan Dollar carries the classification III218 · C3a (Doubled 880, Die Scratches Eagle) with die pairing number 176. The obverse (III218) exhibits doubling on the digits 880 in the date — the second 8 and the 0 showing displacement from the hub transfer process, creating visible secondary impressions adjacent to the primary date digits. The reverse (C3a) is distinguished by a pattern of die scratches distributed across the eagle's plumage: scratches on the right side of the tail feathers between the eagle's legs, three scratches in the middle of the eagle's left wing, and a single horizontal scratch in the middle of the eagle's right wing. These die scratches — likely introduced during die polishing or maintenance — create a distinctive fingerprint for this specific reverse die. The VAMWorld commentary cross-references this variety with 1880-O VAM-62, 1880-O VAM-65A, and 1880-O VAM-76 for their shared characteristic of die scratches between the eagle's legs, suggesting these reverse dies may have undergone similar maintenance procedures or that the scratches developed through a common handling practice at the New Orleans Mint. George T. Morgan's design was struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1880 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1880-O had a mintage of approximately 5.3 million pieces. The combination of doubled date digits and a systematically scratched reverse creates a variety with two independent attribution pathways — the date doubling confirms the obverse die, while the eagle scratch pattern confirms the reverse die — allowing definitive die pair identification from either side of the coin.

External References