1901-O VAM-18A

Description

Designated 18A III2 1 - C4/C3g in the Van Allen-Mallis catalog, this 1901-O Morgan Dollar carries the descriptive title "2 Olive Reverse, Die Break UN" and is documented with plate photo 181. The obverse die class III indicates a modified die with subclass 2, paired with a reverse carrying dual classification C4/C3g reflecting progressive die state changes across its production life. The primary diagnostic is a die crack running from the left star through the tops of UNIT, with a retained die break developing between the U and N where the crack propagates upward to the denticles — this break represents a section of the die face that fractured but remained partially attached, creating a raised area of displaced metal on struck specimens. The 2 Olive Reverse designation refers to a specific reverse die configuration within the 1901-O die marriage catalog. New Orleans Mint production of Morgan Dollars in 1901 represented one of the final years of the series at that facility before the mint ceased operations in 1909. The combination of a modified obverse die paired with a progressively deteriorating reverse makes this variety of interest to collectors tracking die state sequences across the 1901-O VAM catalog.

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