1883-O VAM-8A

Description

Originally cataloged in 2009 by Brent Fogelberg as 1883-O VAM-64, this die marriage was later consolidated into the VAM-8 family and redesignated VAM-8A. It carries the III2 28 obverse paired with a C3f reverse under the full designation Doubled First 8, O Tilted Far Right, Die Gouges Star and Wing. The obverse die features four short horizontal die gouges positioned below the second right star, providing a reliable screening diagnostic. On the reverse, heavy vertical die scratches run through the eagle's left wing inner feathers and the wing-neck gap, giving this C3f die a distinctive appearance under low magnification. The reverse die was shared across three varieties in the 1883-O series: VAM-8, VAM-8A, and VAM-20, illustrating how the New Orleans Mint rotated reverse dies through multiple obverse pairings during production. The now-defunct VAM-64 designation was eliminated once researchers confirmed this was the same die marriage. Collectors should note the O mint mark is tilted far to the right, which helps narrow attribution before examining the more subtle die gouges and scratches.

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