1885-O VAM-1C

Description

Discovered by Brent Fogelberg in 2011, this New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar variety documents die gouges on the eagle's wing feathers that distinguish it within the 1885-O VAM catalog. Classified as III2 1 - C3a, VAM-1C preserves a die gouge on the 5th inner feather of the left wing and additional gouges on the 6th and 7th outer feathers of the right wing, counting from the bottom of each wing section. These gouges were incised into the die surface during production or maintenance, transferring as raised marks onto every coin struck from the affected die. The New Orleans Mint produced over 9.1 million Morgan Dollars in 1885, and the 1885-O is well known for frequently surviving in exceptional condition, with many pieces preserved in original Treasury bags released decades after striking. The feather gouges on VAM-1C require examination of the reverse under moderate magnification, with attention directed to the specific feather positions documented in the attribution guide. Wing feather die gouges appear across numerous Morgan Dollar VAMs and often serve as the primary distinguishing feature between otherwise similar die marriages for a given date.

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