1899-O VAM-9
Error
Description
Cataloged III2 4 - C3b with DPIS LH3/RE4, this 1899-O Morgan Dollar VAM-9 was discovered by Guy Messing in October 1975 and is defined by its distinctly slanted date. The obverse die (III2 4) shows the date angled so that the second 9 sits higher than the 1, creating a visible upward slope from left to right across the four-digit date. Both 9s display closed loops where the tail curves inward to meet the upper portion of the numeral. The reverse carries the C3b designation, with the New Orleans O mint mark tilted slightly to the right and set slightly high — a positioning variant created during the hand-punching of the mint mark into the reverse working die. The DPIS pairing LH3/RE4 links this specific obverse-reverse die combination within the Die Pairing Identification System, helping collectors confirm they have the correct die marriage for VAM-9 attribution.
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