1879-O VAM-9

Description

Guy Messing discovered this New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar variety in March 1974, identifying a doubled 9 in the date as its distinguishing characteristic. Cataloged as VAM-9 with classification III2 5 - C3b (Doubled 9, Large O) and die pairing 176, the obverse shows the final digit 9 doubled at the bottom lower left, with the coin further classified as the Open 9 style where the tail of the numeral does not curl fully closed. The reverse carries a normal C3b type die with a large Type IV O mintmark that is centered. The doubled 9 resulted from the date logotype being impressed into the working die with a slight shift between blows, creating a secondary image at the bottom left of the digit where the greatest displacement occurred. The "Open 9" classification adds a secondary diagnostic: on some 1879 dies the 9's tail curves fully into a closed loop, while on others (like this die) the tail remains open, and this characteristic reflects which specific date logotype punch was used during die preparation. The New Orleans Mint struck approximately 2.89 million Morgan Dollars in 1879, a relatively modest output for the series that makes varieties from this date somewhat scarcer in absolute terms. Messing's 1974 discovery placed this among the earlier documented VAMs for the date, predating the publication of the comprehensive Van Allen-Mallis reference that would later systematize Morgan Dollar variety study and inspire generations of collectors to search for die varieties.

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