1887-O VAM-9

Description

Discovered by Alfred Bonard in December 1973 and revised in 2010, the 1887 New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar VAM-9 is classified as III2 9 C3a revised (Doubled 1-7, Possible 7 in Denticles) with die pair 181. Struck in 90% silver, the obverse shows doubling on the date digits 1 through 7, with the final 7 possibly extending into the denticles along the rim. The revised classification reflects updates applied in 2010 to Bonard's original 1973 attribution. An important die stage relationship connects VAM-9 to VAM-10B: VAM-9 represents the early die state of the same die that later appears as VAM-10B. However, VAM-9 is not related to VAM-10A, which derives from a different die pair entirely. This distinction is critical for accurate attribution, as the shared die between VAM-9 and VAM-10B documents chronological progression while the separate VAM-10A die pair avoids false associations. George T. Morgan's Liberty Head design on the 1887 New Orleans issue provides the framework for the date doubling diagnostic. The New Orleans Mint operated through 1909, and the 1887-O Morgan Dollar represents one of its substantial silver dollar production years.

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