1887-O VAM-11.1

Description

First Weth Die sub-variety in the VAM-11 family for the 1887-O Morgan dollar, VAM-11.1 documents the initial die pairing identified under the "Near Date" classification that Leroy Van Allen discovered in June 1977. Cataloged as 11 III2 11.1 · C3a (Near Date) with a 181-degree die alignment, this variety features an Obverse III2 11.1 die paired with a Reverse C3a, establishing the baseline die marriage within the VAM-11 classification from which subsequent Weth Die sub-varieties (11.2, 11.3, etc.) are distinguished. The near date diagnostic — date positioned further left than normal — provides the overarching classification, while the 11.1 designation identifies this as the first confirmed obverse die exhibiting this characteristic. George T. Morgan's silver dollar obverse places the date beneath Liberty's portrait in a position determined by the engraver who manually punched each digit into the working die using individual numeral punches and a hammer, making the lateral position of the date a variable that distinguishes individual dies. New Orleans produced approximately 11.55 million Morgan dollars in 1887, creating the die consumption that generated the deep VAM catalog where VAM-11 and its multiple Weth Die sub-varieties document a cluster of dies all sharing the leftward date placement. The 181-degree die alignment measurement documents a slight rotational offset between obverse and reverse dies. As the 11.1 baseline entry, this sub-variety likely represents either the first die pair documented or the primary reference specimen against which subsequent 11.2 and 11.3 discoveries were compared and distinguished. No DPIS entries or emission sequence data have been recorded, and collectors pursuing the complete VAM-11 Weth Die set should use comparison examination under 10-15x magnification, focusing on secondary die characteristics unique to each sub-variety that differentiate them beyond the shared near date diagnostic.

External References