1898-O VAM-26

Description

Discovered in 2010, the 1898-O VAM-26 "Doubled Second 8, Near Date, High O Tilted Right" Morgan dollar packs three distinct diagnostic characteristics into a single die marriage: a doubled second 8 in the date, a near (leftward) date position, and a high O mintmark tilted to the right on the reverse. Cataloged as 26 III2 5 - C3d (Doubled Second 8, Near Date, High O Tilted Right) with catalog number 181, this variety exemplifies the multi-diagnostic die marriages that make Morgan dollar VAM collecting endlessly complex. George T. Morgan's silver dollar, struck at the New Orleans Mint with an 1898-O mintage of approximately 4.44 million coins, received its date through hand-punching at the Philadelphia die shop, where the second 8 was impressed with a secondary displaced impression, the entire date was positioned further left than normal, and the O mintmark was subsequently punched at a higher-than-standard position with a rightward tilt on the reverse. Each of these three diagnostics arose from independent actions during die preparation: the doubled 8 from a re-entered digit punch, the near date from the overall lateral positioning of the date logotype, and the high tilted O from the mintmark punching at New Orleans or Philadelphia. The Obverse III2 5 classification, combined with the Reverse C3d pairing, defines this unique die marriage within the extensive 1898-O VAM catalog. The 2010 discovery date — relatively recent for a 19th-century Morgan dollar — demonstrates that new die pairings continue to emerge as collectors apply modern examination techniques and digital photography to surviving populations. DPIS entries and emission sequence data remain unlisted, and collectors seeking this variety should examine the second 8 in the date under 15x magnification for doubling, confirm the leftward date position, and verify the high rightward-tilted O on the reverse.

External References