1886-O VAM-18

Description

C. Logan McKechnie's July 2002 discovery of VAM-18 on the 1886-O Morgan Dollar cataloged a variety with the designation III21 paired with reverse C3h, bearing the title "Doubled Arrow, O Tilted Right" and identification number 181. The reverse die C3h presents two interrelated features: the lower arrow shaft and feathers show slight doubling, visible where the secondary hub impression left ghost lines along the arrow's lower contour and the adjacent feather details. Additionally, the right side of the eagle's legs and the eagle's left leg feathers display slight doubling — a spread pattern affecting the lower portion of the heraldic eagle design where the bird's legs grip the arrows and olive branch. The O mintmark is set slightly left of center with a tilt to the right, a positioning variation that places the New Orleans mint letter at both a lateral offset and a rotational angle relative to the standard vertical alignment, documenting two distinct aspects of the hand-punching process: the engraver's aim (slightly left) and the angular orientation of the punch when struck (tilted right). The doubled arrow and leg feathers provide reverse attribution diagnostics, while the tilted O serves as a quick initial identification filter. The 1886-O Morgan Dollar is a key date in the Morgan series, with a mintage of only approximately 10.71 million pieces — a moderate figure for a New Orleans issue, but one that produced enough coins for die variety study to be viable. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper at 26.73 grams, the 1886-O's combination of doubled design elements and mintmark positioning variations makes VAM-18 a multi-diagnostic variety that collectors can approach through either the reverse design doubling or the mintmark orientation as an initial identification pathway.

External References