1889-O VAM-3A

Description

Discovered in 2017 by Larry Lane, known in the collecting community as "Chief," the 1889-O VAM-3A is classified as III2 8 - C3e and designated "Far Date, O/O Top Left, Doubled Ear." The obverse (III2 8) shows Liberty's ear slightly doubled at the right inside. Commentary provides important context about the doubled ear diagnostic: the doubling can be as much a striking or die wear issue as true hub doubling, and it has been observed to be transitory in nature — appearing on some specimens struck from this die but not others — leading to the assessment that this may not be the best criterion for listing a VAM. This critical note reflects the ongoing debate within the VAM community about the threshold for what constitutes a legitimate die variety versus normal production variation. The far date designation indicates the date digits are positioned further from the rim denticles than normal, while the O/O Top Left documents a repunched O mintmark with the original impression visible to the upper left of the final position. The Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan, struck at the New Orleans Mint in 90% silver at 26.73 grams and 38.1 mm diameter. The 1889-O is a conditionally rare date with a mintage of approximately 11.88 million, though well-struck examples are scarce. The combination of three diagnostics — far date, repunched O, and potentially transitory doubled ear — illustrates the complexity of Morgan Dollar variety attribution, where die-specific features must be carefully distinguished from strike-related artifacts that may or may not appear consistently across all coins produced from the same die.

External References