1889-O VAM-22

Description

Combining a far date with an O mintmark tilted to the left, the 1889-O VAM-22 Morgan Dollar was discovered by C. Logan McKechnie in August 2002 and revised in 2011. Cataloged as III2 8 C3j with die variety number 181, the III designation for the O mintmark indicates it is centered but tilted left — a positioning anomaly from the mintmark punch being applied at a slight angle to the die surface. A vertical polishing line at the front of the eye on the obverse serves as a die marker for identification. The far date placement means the digits sit further from design elements than typical 1889-O dies, offering a quick preliminary sorting feature. The 1889-O Morgan Dollar holds particular significance because New Orleans production that year was comparatively modest, and the date is recognized as semi-key in higher grades. Die varieties on scarcer New Orleans dates attract dedicated pursuit from VAM collectors because lower mintages imply fewer die pairs, making each documented variety a proportionally larger piece of the production puzzle. The 2011 revision to the original 2002 discovery reflects ongoing refinement as additional specimens refine initial attributions.

External References