1891-O VAM-17A

Description

Discovered by David Borofski in February 2006, the 1891-O VAM-17A Morgan Dollar is classified as III21 - C3h (Doubled Left Wreath, Clashed Obverse t) with die pairing number 181. The obverse (III21) displays a clashed die impression with a partial incuse t from the word TRUST on the reverse visible in the right hair vee of Liberty's lower hair edge — a transferred design element created when the obverse and reverse dies struck each other without an intervening planchet, imprinting the lowercase t of TRUST into the obverse die's hair area. Some specimens show a double clashed t, indicating two separate clash events transferred the t impression at slightly different positions, creating a layered pattern. The reverse (C3h) features a doubled left wreath, with commentary noting that the mintmark differs from VAM-17 but the two varieties share the doubled left wreath characteristic — establishing that both VAM-17 and VAM-17A use reverse dies with similar wreath doubling but different hand-punched O mintmarks, confirming they are distinct die pairings rather than die states of a single variety. The Morgan Dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1891 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. George T. Morgan's design features Liberty in a Phrygian cap on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. The clashed t in the hair vee is one of the more recognizable clash transfer patterns on Morgan Dollars because the t's simple geometry makes it identifiable even in worn specimens, and the double-clashed variant — where two separate impacts created overlapping t impressions — is an especially desirable die state for VAM specialists.

External References