1898-O VAM-27A

Description

Discovered in 2013, the 1898-O VAM-27A is a Morgan dollar variety struck at the New Orleans Mint, classified as 27A III2 11 - C3c and designated Doubled Second 8, O Tilted Right, Die Gouges Date. The Morgan dollar was struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and a reeded edge. The New Orleans Mint, which operated from 1838 to 1909, produced 4,440,000 Morgan dollars in 1898, a moderate production figure for this facility. The obverse classification III2 11 identifies die-specific features including a short die gouge at the denticles to the left of the digit 1 and a die gouge between the right digit 8 and the first star to the right of the date. These die gouges near the date area, combined with the variety name's reference to date gouges, make the area around the date the primary zone for initial variety screening. The O mintmark is tilted to the right, a positional characteristic resulting from the angle at which the New Orleans engraver struck the mintmark punch into the reverse die. The doubled second 8 in the date indicates the right 8 was punched twice with a slight positional shift, leaving traces of the first impression visible alongside the final digit. Important cataloging notes record that this variety shares its obverse die with 1898-O VAM-12, establishing a die linkage between the two varieties. A further note states that VAM-27A appears to be the exact same thing as the 1898-O VAM-5, suggesting a potential duplicate listing situation similar to those that occasionally arise in the extensive VAM cataloging system when varieties are independently discovered and reported before die-matching can be completed. The DPIS code 181 positions this variety within the date indexing framework. Resolution of the relationship between VAM-27A and VAM-5 remains part of the ongoing refinement process that characterizes the VAM community's scholarly approach to Morgan dollar variety documentation.

External References