1901-O VAM-1

Description

Serving as the baseline die pairing for the 1901-O Morgan Dollar, VAM-1 was first documented by Neil Shafer in November 1964 and represents the "Normal Die" classification — a standard obverse and reverse combination against which all other die pairings for the date are compared. The obverse features a closed 9, while the reverse carries a medium-size III O mint mark that is centered and upright — the expected New Orleans position and orientation without the tilts, shifts, or repunching that characterize other 1901-O VAM numbers. Plated as 1 III2 1 - C3a on page 181, VAM-1 occupies die pair 1 of Obverse Die Class III2, paired with Reverse C3a. Every Morgan Dollar date-mint combination requires a VAM-1 baseline entry to anchor the classification system, and Shafer's early identification in 1964 placed this normal die into what would become the comprehensive VAM catalog. New Orleans produced 13.32 million Morgan Dollars in 1901, a substantial figure ensuring availability across most grade levels. While VAM-1 lacks the dramatic anomalies that attract error collectors, it remains essential for researchers building complete die studies. =1901-O VAM-1 Normal Die= Discovered by Neil Shafer, November 1964.

External References