1896-O VAM-2

Description

Discovered in June 1965 by George Mallis — one of the two co-creators of the Van Allen-Mallis attribution system — the 1896-O VAM-2 documents a medium-sized O mintmark tilted slightly to the left on this New Orleans Morgan Dollar. Classified as III2 1 with reverse die C3b, the variety captures one of Mallis's own early attributions that helped build the foundation of what would become the most comprehensive die marriage catalog in American numismatics. The leftward tilt of the New Orleans mintmark reflects the hand-punching process used throughout the Morgan Dollar era: a Mint employee at Philadelphia would punch the appropriate mintmark letter into each working die destined for a branch mint, and the angle at which the punch was applied determined the tilt. New Orleans O mintmarks show particular diversity in placement and orientation across the series, as the distant branch mint received dies prepared in Philadelphia. The 1896-O had a modest mintage compared to Philadelphia, making varieties from this date-mint combination of interest to Morgan Dollar specialists. Struck in 90% silver at 38.1mm and 26.73 grams with George T. Morgan's Liberty Head obverse and heraldic eagle reverse. Examine the O mintmark for the characteristic leftward tilt — a variety personally discovered by VAM system co-creator George Mallis.

External References