1884-O VAM-5A

Description

Identified by Mark Kimpton in May 2004, the 1884-O VAM-5A Morgan Dollar carries die marriage III24, reverse C3a, and is distinguished by a far date position and a clashed obverse. The die clash left a faint partial incuse G from GOD on the reverse transferred next to Liberty's head and neck on the obverse — a telltale sign that the obverse and reverse dies struck each other without a planchet between them. This die pair also shows a slightly rotated reverse in the clockwise direction, adding another diagnostic for attribution. Notably, VAM-5A shares neither its obverse die nor its reverse die with VAM-5, VAM-5D, or VAM-5E, despite all carrying the VAM-5 base designation — they are related by similar characteristics rather than shared dies. Die clashes on Morgan Dollars are a common phenomenon that occurred when the high-speed coin presses of the era occasionally cycled without a planchet in the collar. The New Orleans Mint produced the 1884-O in substantial numbers, and its coins are known for sometimes exhibiting weaker strikes compared to Philadelphia or San Francisco issues of the same year. =1884-O VAM-5A Far Date, Clashed Obverse G= Discovered by Mark Kimpton, May 2004.

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