1881-O VAM-6

Description

Discovered by Leonard Hinckley in February 1974, the 1881-O VAM-6 Morgan Dollar is classified as III2 1 – C3d (O Tilted Left) with die pairing number 176. The obverse (III2 1) is identified as normal dies with no significant anomalies, while the reverse (C3d) features a mintmark that is centered but tilted to the left — a rotational misalignment of the O punch that distinguishes this die from the standard upright mintmark orientation used on most New Orleans issues. Mintmark tilt variations on Morgan Dollars from the New Orleans Mint are among the most commonly documented VAM features because each O was individually hand-punched into the working die, and slight rotational differences in how the engraver held and struck the punch created measurable angular offsets unique to each die. Community commentary notes that the exact same reverse die produced the 1881-O VAM-6, VAM-6A, VAM-37, VAM-37A, and VAM-37B — an important attribution detail revealing that this single reverse die was paired with multiple obverse dies during its service life, creating a family of related varieties that share identical reverse characteristics but differ in their obverse die pairings and states. An additional note clarifies that an update listing a revision for 1881-O actually pertains to the 1881-P VAM-6, confirming the original description above as correct for the New Orleans issue. The Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan and struck at the New Orleans Mint in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter and reeded edge. The 1881-O had a mintage of approximately 5.7 million pieces. Examination of the mintmark area under 5x magnification best reveals the leftward tilt that defines this variety.

External References