1891-O VAM-10A

Description

Discovered in 2017, the 1891-O VAM-10A is a Morgan dollar variety struck at the New Orleans Mint, classified as 10A III2 5 - C3e and designated Slanted Date, O Set High, Die Breaks E, ER, T-TE. The Morgan dollar was struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and a reeded edge. The New Orleans Mint, which operated from 1838 to 1909, produced 7,954,529 Morgan dollars in 1891, a solid production figure for this historically significant Southern facility. The obverse, classified as II2 5, shows a die crack at the top of E-P with a displaced field break at the E of E PLURIBUS, indicating the die had developed a significant stress fracture that allowed metal to flow into the gap during striking. The reverse, classified as C3e, exhibits multiple die breaks: a die crack at the top of ERI with a displaced field break at ER, and a separate die crack at the top of STATES with its own displaced field break. The presence of multiple displaced field breaks across different parts of the reverse inscription indicates this die was in an advanced state of deterioration, with fractures developing at several stress points simultaneously. The slanted date on the obverse places the digits at a slight angle, while the high O mintmark position is a die-specific characteristic resulting from the hand-placement of the mintmark punch by a New Orleans Mint engraver. The combination of obverse and reverse die features creates a distinctive die marriage with multiple diagnostic entry points that collectors can use for identification. The DPIS (date position in the series) code 181 positions this variety within the broader cataloging framework used by the VAM community for tracking date punch positions across all Morgan dollar dies.

External References