1899-O VAM-8

Description

Discovered by Leonard Hinckley in February 1974, the 1899-O Morgan Dollar VAM-8 features a distinctively slanted date where the second 9 sits higher than the 1, creating a visible upward slope from left to right across the date digits. Both nines display the closed loop form, distinguishing them from open-9 varieties found on other 1899-O dies. The obverse die (III2 4) is paired with reverse die C3a under the Slanted Date designation. Date punch misalignment of this type occurred during die preparation when the four-digit date logotype was impressed at a slight angle rather than perfectly horizontal, and the degree of slant varies from subtle to dramatic across different Morgan Dollar VAM varieties. The 1899-O, struck at the New Orleans Mint in the final years of 19th-century production, is a common date in the Morgan series, making VAM-8 an accessible variety for collectors interested in date position and punch orientation studies.

External References