1889-O VAM-18

Description

Discovered by Herb Zepke in February 1998 and revised in 2012, this 1889-O Morgan dollar is cataloged as VAM-18 (revised) with classification III2 11 and a C3a reverse under the title Doubled Obverse, Slanted Date, O Set High Tilted Right. The obverse presents a rich array of doubled elements: the bottom of the top cotton boll and the right side of the lower cotton boll and cotton leaves all show displacement, the ear is slightly doubled on the right outside on fully struck specimens, and the eyelid on stars 3 through 5 is slightly doubled. The date is set further right than normal with a slight slant where the 1 sits higher than the 9, which is a reverse slant from the usual orientation seen on New Orleans Morgan dollars. The O mintmark is positioned high and tilted to the right. This variety is notable for the breadth of obverse doubling that extends well beyond the date into Liberty's portrait details, requiring examination of cotton bolls, ear, and eyelid under magnification. The 1889-O is already a key date in the Morgan series, and documented VAM varieties from this issue carry added numismatic significance.

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