1892-O VAM-20

Description

Discovered in August 2013 by John Roberts from a coin originally owned by C. Logan McKechnie, the 1892-O VAM-20 is cataloged as die pair III2 16 / C3a with the descriptive title "Doubled 8 Bottom." The obverse displays a slightly doubled bottom outside of the digit 8 in the date, accompanied by slightly doubled profile features on the nose, lips, and chin — demonstrating that the doubling extends beyond the date area to affect Liberty's facial contour. Obverse die markers include a diagonal die scratch at the top left of the E in LIBERTY and a couple of tiny patches of die rust pitting at the letters PLUR of PLURIBUS, the latter indicating early stages of die surface deterioration from moisture exposure. The reverse is classified as C3a, a normal die. The Morgan dollar was designed by George T. Morgan and struck at the New Orleans Mint in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a diameter of 38.1 mm. The 1892-O had a business strike mintage of approximately 2.74 million pieces — one of the lower New Orleans mintages in the Morgan dollar series, as production was winding down during the final years before the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893. The dual diagnostic approach — checking both the bottom of the 8 and Liberty's profile for doubling — provides two independent verification points for attribution, making VAM-20 identifiable even on moderately worn specimens where one diagnostic area may be clearer than the other.

External References