1881-O VAM-1D

Description

Discovered by Larry Briggs in August 2003, the 1881-O VAM-1D Pummeled (Flaky) Eye is both a Hit List 40 member and a WOW! designation Morgan VAM — two elite classifications indicating exceptional collector desirability. Classified as 1D III2 1 - C3a (Pummeled Eye) under catalog number 176, the obverse exhibits flakes of metal in front of and on Liberty's eye, creating a distinctive pockmarked or battered appearance on the eye area. The reverse shows a normal die. The "pummeled eye" effect likely resulted from die damage or foreign material impacting the die surface in the area of Liberty's eye, transferring the damaged texture to every coin struck from that die. The Hit List 40 represents the forty most sought-after Morgan Dollar VAM varieties, a curated list maintained by the VAM community to identify varieties of exceptional numismatic significance. The WOW! designation further elevates its status. The 1881-O was struck at the New Orleans Mint with a mintage of 5,708,000 pieces, and cataloged by VAMWorld, the comprehensive online reference for Morgan and Peace Dollar die varieties. New Orleans Morgan Dollars from the 1880s represent a rich field for VAM research, with dozens of varieties documented for most dates from this prolific southern mint.

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