1891-O VAM-16

Description

Discovered by Alan Scott in November 2002, the 1891-O VAM-16 Morgan Dollar carries the designation "Near Date, O Set High" under catalog code III2 6 C3e. The obverse is type III2 die 6, distinguished by a date set further left than normal — the "near date" in VAM terminology refers to the date's proximity to the rim or other reference points, with this particular obverse showing the date positioned closer to its left boundary than standard die placement would produce. The reverse is classified as C3e, featuring a type III O mint mark set upright and high — positioned higher than the normal vertical placement within the wreath opening below the eagle. Mintmark positioning on New Orleans Morgan Dollars is a critical diagnostic in VAM attribution because the O mintmark was hand-punched into each reverse die, and variations in vertical position, horizontal centering, tilt angle, and size create distinct die characteristics that differentiate one reverse from another. The 1891-O Morgan Dollar had a mintage of approximately 7.95 million pieces from the New Orleans Mint, which was then approaching the final decade of its Morgan Dollar production. New Orleans operated under environmental conditions — heat and humidity — that could affect die handling and storage, though the VAM-16 diagnostics relate to die preparation rather than production conditions. Alan Scott's 2002 discovery came during a mature phase of VAM research when the community had developed refined examination techniques and comparison standards. The combination of near date obverse with high-set O mintmark reverse creates a die marriage that is identifiable through both obverse and reverse diagnostics independently.

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