1903-O VAM-4

Description

Discovered by Lewis Rosenbaum in September 1977, the 1903-O VAM-4 Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 3 · C4c (Doubled 3, O Set Right, Tilted Left) with die pairing number 181. The obverse (III2 3) presents a closed 9 in the date, with the 3 doubled at the top outside appearing as a thin curved arc — a delicate but diagnostically specific doubled digit feature. Beyond the date doubling, slight doubling of Liberty's head profile is visible including the nose, lips, and chin, adding facial feature doubling to the variety's diagnostic portfolio. The reverse (C4c) features the mintmark set right and tilted left — the O displaced rightward from the standard position and angled toward the left, a positioning combination unique to this working die. An important note records that the exact same die pair produced both the 1903-O VAM-4 and the 1903-O VAM-4A, meaning these two catalog entries represent different die states of the same die marriage rather than different die combinations — with VAM-4A documenting a later state with additional die changes. George T. Morgan designed this silver dollar, struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1903 — the final year of Morgan Dollar production at New Orleans before the series was suspended and the mint closed in 1909. Composed of 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1903-O had a mintage of approximately 4.5 million pieces, relatively modest for a New Orleans Morgan. The combination of doubled date digit, profile doubling, and distinctive mintmark positioning across three independent diagnostic features — plus the die pair link to VAM-4A — creates a richly documented die marriage within the terminal-year New Orleans Morgan production.

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