1891-O VAM-22

Description

Discovered in 2012, this New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar is designated VAM-22 with classification III2 14 and reverse die C3e, described as Doubled Stars and Motto, Far Date, O Set High. The obverse die III2 14 presents complex doubling: left and right stars are doubled to tripled, and E PLURIBUS UNUM shows doubling at letter tops directed toward the rim. The date is set further right than normal, and very slight doubling appears on the left and right inside of Liberty's ear. This combination of star doubling, motto displacement, date repositioning, and ear doubling makes this one of the more feature-rich varieties in the 1891-O catalog. The reverse C3e pairs with an O mint mark set high. The variety number 181 places this within the 1891-O framework. The tripled stars represent a particularly notable feature, as triple impressions occur less frequently than simple doubling and suggest the die received at least three slightly offset hub impressions, progressively shifting toward the rim to produce the characteristic outward-directed spread on peripheral design elements.

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