1884-O VAM-12

Description

Discovered by Bill Lenz in June 1972, VAM-12 of the 1884-O Morgan Dollar is one of the earlier VAM attributions for this prolific New Orleans Mint date, cataloged as plate 12 III2 1 with a C3h reverse die class. The variety is named O/O Line for its defining characteristic: the O mint mark was repunched, and the original punch position is visible as a thin vertical line on the left side of the opening of the O. This linear remnant of the first punch impression is diagnostically distinct from die scratches or polishing lines because it follows the curvature expected of an O mintmark's interior wall, confirming that the Mint engraver struck the O punch twice with slight displacement. Each New Orleans Mint working die received its mintmark through individual hand-punching, and imprecise placement on the first attempt often led to correction punches that created the repunched mintmark varieties central to Morgan Dollar VAM collecting. The 1884-O is among the most common Morgan Dollar dates in high grades due to Treasury hoard releases. Attributed by VAMWorld.

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