1882-O VAM-26

Description

Discovered by Oscar Simpson in August 1978 and revised in 2022, the 1882-O VAM-26 Morgan Dollar carries the revised classification III2 17 - C3n (Doubled 8-2, O Set Right) with die pairing number 181, documented by VAMWorld. The obverse (III2 17) displays the left 8 slightly doubled at the left outside of the upper loop and the left inside of the lower loop, while the 2 is doubled on the right side of the upper ball with small horizontal gouges visible in the lower loop. The open-style 2 — distinguished from the closed-2 variant by the gap at the bottom of the digit — helps narrow the identification to this specific obverse die style. The reverse (C3n) features a Type II O mintmark set slightly to the right of the standard position, a hand-punched positional variation that distinguishes this reverse die from others in the 1882-O die population. The New Orleans Mint produced Morgan Dollars with considerable mintmark placement variety because each working die received its O mintmark individually by hand, and the slight rightward offset documented here represents the specific engraver's judgment when positioning the punch on this particular die. George T. Morgan's design was struck in 1882 at the New Orleans Mint in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 2022 revision to this variety's listing indicates that ongoing research and new discoveries continue to refine the VAM catalog decades after the initial documentation, as collectors and researchers compare notes, examine new specimens, and update classifications to reflect improved understanding of die characteristics and pairing relationships.

External References