1903-O VAM-21
Error
Description
Discovered in 2015, VAM-21 for the 1903 New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar is designated 21 III2 12 - C4j (Doubled Forehead, O Set Right) with rarity not yet established. The obverse die exhibits subtle doubling across several areas: the forehead is slightly doubled, the nose bridge shows secondary impressions, the top of the Phrygian cap carries doubling, and the right inside of the ear is very slightly affected. This distribution across multiple facial features indicates the hub misalignment displaced the entire upper portrait area. On the reverse, die C4j carries a III O mint mark set slightly to the right of center at normal height, distinguishing it from other 1903-O reverse dies with centered or left-shifted mint marks. The 1903-O Morgan Dollar holds special significance: sealed Treasury bags of this date were released in the 1960s, affecting the availability of uncirculated examples. Attributing VAM-21 requires careful examination of the forehead, nose bridge, and cap under magnification, along with verification of the rightward-shifted O.
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