1882-O VAM-1

Description

Discovered by George Mallis in June 1965, VAM-1 for the 1882 New Orleans Morgan Dollar represents the baseline normal die standard against which all other die varieties for this date and mint are compared. Classified as III2-C3a Open 2, the obverse is a normal die of the III2 type featuring an open 2 at the top of the date, a configuration that is more common than the closed 2 variant. The reverse is a normal die of the C3 type with a tall oval medium type II O mint mark that is centered and upright. George Mallis is the "M" in the VAM classification system, having co-developed this foundational framework alongside Leroy Van Allen for systematically cataloging Morgan and Peace Dollar die varieties. VAM-1 designations serve as essential reference points in the collecting community, establishing what constitutes a "normal" die for each date and mint combination so that collectors can identify deviations. The distinction between open and closed 2 in the date reflects differences in the date logotype punches used across various dies for the 1882 New Orleans issue.

External References