1894-O VAM-12

Description

Discovered in 2011, VAM-12 documents a die variety on the 1894-O Morgan Dollar from the New Orleans Mint, a date recognized for its low mintage. Classified under plate designation 12 III2 4 C3a, the variety features Very Near Date positioning on the obverse, where numerals are placed closer to the rim than standard spacing. The reverse is classified as C3f, designated High O Tilted Right, indicating the O mintmark is set slightly higher than normal with a slight rightward tilt. Mintmark placement variations are among the most studied features in VAM attribution, as hand-punched mintmarks produced a wide range of positions and angles serving as reliable diagnostics for specific reverse dies. The 1894-O is a better date with lower production figures than many New Orleans contemporaries, giving any documented variety added appeal. The combination of unusual date positioning on the obverse and a tilted, high-set mintmark on the reverse provides two independent diagnostics for identifying this die marriage, making attribution straightforward.

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