1889-O VAM-2A

Description

Recognized as a Top 100 Morgan VAM, the 1889-O VAM-2A Oval O, Far Date is classified as 2A III2 8 C3b with die pairing number 181. The obverse (III2 8) features a die chip between the loops of the first 8 on the right side, along with double die clash lines visible from the neck area — evidence that this obverse die experienced at least one clash event where obverse and reverse dies struck each other without a planchet between them. This variety was formerly cataloged as VAM-17 before reclassification. The primary distinction from the base VAM-2 is the large die chip in the date area, with the same premiums typically applied to both varieties. The Oval O mintmark indicates one of the distinctive mintmark punch shapes used at the New Orleans Mint, where oval-shaped O punches differed from the more common round O varieties and serve as a primary sorting criterion for 1889-O VAM attribution. George T. Morgan's design was struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter at the New Orleans Mint, which produced approximately 11.88 million Morgan Dollars in 1889. The 1889-O is a recognized semi-key date in the series, and its Top 100 VAM status makes the VAM-2A particularly desirable to collectors pursuing the Top 100 registry set. The die clash lines from the neck provide secondary attribution evidence that supplements the primary diagnostic of the oval mintmark shape and far date positioning, as clash marks create die-specific patterns that remain consistent across all coins struck from the same die pair.

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