1880-O VAM-26

Description

Identified by Martin Field in June 1979, the 1880-O VAM-26 is a Doubled 80 variety on the Morgan dollar struck at the New Orleans Mint. The classification reads 26 III2 19 - C3a (Doubled 80) (176). On the obverse, the second 8 shows doubling at the lower left outside of the upper loop, and the final 0 of the date is doubled at the top left inside on the surface. The reverse carries the C3a designation, indicating an overpolished die with surface roughness visible around the wreath, eagle's tail feathers, olive leaves, and letters of ONE. Die polishing was a common Mint practice to extend die life or remove clash marks, and the resulting surface roughness on this reverse die suggests aggressive polishing that left telltale texture across multiple design elements. New Orleans Mint Morgan dollars from 1880 are plentiful in lower grades but the VAM-26 doubling on both date digits gives collectors a specific diagnostic to search for when examining bags and rolls of this otherwise common date. =1880-O VAM-26 Doubled 80= Discovered by Martin Field, June 1979.

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