1897-O VAM-6B

Description

Carrying the prestigious "WOW! Morgan VAM" designation, the 1897-O Morgan Dollar VAM-6B was discovered in June 2011 by Mark Daveler as the late die state of VAM-6. The variety is designated Near Date, High O Tilted Right, Die Breaks Lower Reverse, reflecting the cumulative characteristics that develop from the VAM-6 die marriage into its terminal state. The obverse shows the Near Date positioning with the O mintmark set high and tilted to the right, both features carried over from the parent VAM-6 attribution. The late die state adds a raised die break on the left side of the left star — a displaced field break characteristic of an obverse die nearing retirement. The WOW! designation is a Van Allen-Mallis premium collectible classification analogous to the Hot 50 and Top 50 lists, reserved for Morgan Dollar varieties judged to be exceptional in rarity, appearance, or diagnostic interest. The 90% silver 1897-O Morgan Dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint; O-mint Morgans of this decade are well-studied, and VAM-6B's late-state die breaks make raw attribution straightforward when the obverse left-star area is examined.

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