1904-O VAM-1B

Description

Discovered by Mark Kimpton in March 2005 and revised in 2006, the 1904-O VAM-1B Morgan Dollar carries the classification III21 · C4a (Pitting in OL) with die pairing number 189, documented by VAMWorld. The reverse (C4a) displays a pitted die surface concentrated around the letters OL in DOLLAR, matching the pitting pattern found on the related VAMs 4A and 5A, along with heavy die polishing lines visible in the eagle’s wings and tail feathers — linear striations left by maintenance filing intended to extend the die’s service life. A clashed die impression matches that found on VAM 4B, indicating the reverse die struck the obverse die without a planchet between them at some point during production. A small vertical die gouge sits next to the eagle’s left wing edge opposite the top of the right wreath, providing an additional attribution marker. Community commentary from Alan notes that this listing was subsequently eliminated by splitting into the more precisely defined VAM-1B1, VAM-1B2, and VAM-1B3 — a refinement process common in VAM scholarship where further study reveals distinct die states or pairings within what was originally cataloged as a single variety. The Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan and struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1904 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1904-O had a mintage of approximately 3.7 million pieces, making it a lower-mintage New Orleans issue. The convergence of pitting, polishing lines, and clash marks on this reverse die documents multiple types of die wear and maintenance events occurring on a single working die during its service at the New Orleans facility.

External References