1904-O VAM-24

Description

Discovered by Leroy Van Allen in December 1981 — co-creator of the VAM classification system — the 1904-O VAM-24 Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 12 - C4a (Doubled 9-4) with die pairing number 181. The obverse (III2 12) exhibits specific date doubling on two digits: a spike appears in the top right inside of the 9's lower loop, and the 4 is doubled at its top as a horizontal line — two diagnostically precise features that provide quick visual confirmation under magnification. The spike in the 9's lower loop is particularly distinctive because it creates an angular protrusion within the normally smooth interior curve of the digit, making it detectable even at moderate magnification. Community commentary notes a semi-circular scratch from the top of the 9 over and down the outside left of the 0 in the date that matches the VAM-24 plate in the 4th Edition of the BVB (Breen-Van Allen Book), with photos taken from an MS64 PL (Prooflike) coin — documentation that helps collectors compare their specimens against the original published plate images. George T. Morgan designed this silver dollar, struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1904 — the final year of Morgan Dollar production before the twenty-year hiatus until the 1921 revival. Composed of 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter, the 1904-O had a mintage of approximately 3.72 million pieces. Leroy Van Allen's personal discovery of this variety in 1981 adds historical significance, as attributions made by the system's co-creator carry particular authority within the VAM collecting community. The doubled 9-4 designation focuses on the two digits showing the most prominent doubling, and the spike-in-9 combined with horizontal-line-on-4 provides a two-point diagnostic that enables efficient screening of potential specimens.

External References