1889-O VAM-13E

Description

A dramatic die break through the bottom of the left stars extending to the neck point creates an extra star point on this 1889-O Morgan Dollar, making VAM-13E one of the more visually striking New Orleans Mint Morgan varieties. Cataloged as III2 8 - C3a with the designation (180) and the attribute "Far Date, Extra Star Point," this variety combines two features: the date sits farther from the bust than normal, and the die break through the lower left stars forms an additional point mimicking a genuine design element. The die break path from bottom left stars over to the neck point accumulates enough displaced metal at the first left star to create an extra ray. Slight tripling of the ear lobe bottom adds a further attribution point, suggesting minor hub displacement during manufacture. The reverse presents faint shallow die gouges in the E DO area as a secondary marker. The 1889-O was struck at the New Orleans Mint, which operated from 1838 to 1909 and produced Morgan Dollars with the O mintmark widely collected as a distinct subset of the series.

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