1886-O VAM-2

Description

Discovered by Charles Wallace in June 1966, the 1886-O VAM-2 "High 6" documents an obverse die state where the final digit of the date sits noticeably higher than its normal position. Under the Van Allen-Mallis classification system, this variety is designated III2-2 with reverse die C3a, and the reference number (181) links it to published census records. The High 6 placement resulted from the position at which the date was punched into the working die — a manual process during this era that produced subtle positional variations from die to die. The 1886-O Morgan Dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint, a facility whose lower production volumes compared to Philadelphia make its issues generally scarcer and more actively collected. George T. Morgan's Liberty Head obverse and heraldic eagle reverse were produced in 90% silver on a 38.1mm planchet. New Orleans Morgan Dollars from the 1880s occupy a collectible sweet spot: old enough to carry historical weight, scarce enough to command attention, yet available enough for determined collectors to acquire. Examine the date under magnification to confirm the elevated position of the 6 relative to standard die alignment.

External References