1899-O VAM-33

Description

Discovered by Marc Serafine in October 1999 on the centennial of the coin's production, the 1899-O VAM-33 Morgan Dollar is designated Doubled 99 and classified under die marriage III219 with reverse die C3a. The obverse die III219 displays doubled 9s in the date with distinctly different doubling characteristics on each digit: the first 9 shows slight doubling at the top outside of the upper loop appearing as a faint arc, while the second 9 is doubled more strongly at the left inside of the upper loop as a thick arc. The date is slightly slanted, with the numeral 1 positioned close to the denticles. The contrasting strength of doubling between the two 9s makes this variety particularly interesting from a die-making perspective, as it reveals how hub displacement affected different areas of the date at varying intensities. New Orleans Morgan Dollars from 1899 were struck in quantities exceeding 12 million, providing ample material for VAM collectors to search. Marc Serafine's discovery of this variety remains a notable contribution to the 1899-O die marriage roster.

External References