1886-O VAM-31

Description

Discovered in August 2025 by Brent Fogelberg, the 1886-O VAM-31 is among the most recently documented additions to the Morgan Dollar VAM catalog, classified as III2 23 · C3l (O Tilted Slightly Left, Set Right). The obverse (III2 23) shows the date set at the left side of the normal position, with die markers including die polishing lines visible in LIBE of LIBERTY — evidence of maintenance filing that left linear striations in the letter recesses. The reverse (C3l) features the O mintmark set slightly right of the normal position with a very slight tilt to the left, a hand-punch placement variation unique to this working die. Reverse die markers include a short vertical chip in the wing-neck gap along with other die polishing lines and polishing in the wreath bow. The DPIS (Die Position Index System) reading of LH3/RE4 provides positional reference coordinates. The 1886-O Morgan Dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1886-O is a key date in the Morgan series with a mintage of approximately 10.7 million pieces, though many remained in Treasury storage for decades. George T. Morgan's design was entering its ninth year of production, and the New Orleans Mint continued to hand-punch O mintmarks into each reverse working die individually — a procedure that ensured every die had a uniquely positioned mintmark, generating the placement variations that VAM collectors systematically document. Fogelberg's August 2025 discovery demonstrates that new VAM varieties continue to emerge decades after the series ended production, reflecting the enormous die population and the ongoing efforts of the VAM collecting community to catalog every identifiable die marriage.

External References