1887-O VAM-1C

Description

Originally discovered in 2014 by Ray Castro (known in the VAM community as "Hobocarver"), the 1887-O VAM-1C Morgan dollar featured a vertical die gouge positioned between the fourth and fifth tail feathers, extending downward to the wreath bow top on the reverse. Cataloged as III2 1 · C3a (Die Gouge Tail Feathers) with die number 181, this variety paired a standard obverse with a Reverse C3a carrying the distinctive inter-feather gouge as its primary diagnostic. However, in 2017 the variety was deleted from the active VAM catalog after being determined to be the same as VAM-19, illustrating the ongoing refinement process that keeps the VAM system accurate. George T. Morgan's silver dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint with an approximate mintage of 11.55 million coins in 1887, a substantial production run that generated extensive die pair documentation. The deletion of VAM-1C as a duplicate of VAM-19 demonstrates a common occurrence in variety cataloging: independent researchers examining different specimens can identify what appears to be a new variety, only for subsequent analysis to reveal that the diagnostic characteristics match a previously documented attribution. The vertical die gouge between the fourth and fifth tail feathers — a prominent area of Frank Morgan's heraldic eagle reverse where the feather detail provides clear reference points for measuring gouge position and orientation — apparently proved identical to the gouge documented under VAM-19 when evaluated with additional specimens and refined comparative analysis. Ray Castro's "Hobocarver" pseudonym reflects the intersection of hobby carving and variety research that characterizes some contributors to the Morgan dollar VAM community. Collectors encountering references to VAM-1C should redirect their attribution to VAM-19, which carries the surviving catalog entry for this die pair.

External References