1893-O VAM-1

Description

Baseline die pairing for the 1893-O Morgan Dollar, VAM-1 establishes the normal die configuration from which all other varieties for this scarce New Orleans date are differentiated. The reverse carries a medium Type III O mintmark positioned centered and upright, with plate designation 1 III2 1 and die pair C3a (181). As the normal-die attribution, VAM-1 represents the most frequently encountered die marriage, though even the most common pairing for this date carries a premium owing to limited availability. The 1893-O had a mintage of only 300,000 business strikes — among the lowest production figures in the entire New Orleans Morgan series — making it a conditionally rare coin commanding strong prices across all grades. New Orleans resumed Morgan Dollar production in 1898 after a hiatus, but the 1893-O predates that break. For VAM collectors, owning a properly attributed VAM-1 of a scarce date provides both the reference specimen needed for comparative attribution work and a coin whose underlying date rarity ensures lasting numismatic value independent of variety premiums.

External References