1883-O VAM-1E

Description

Originally cataloged as a distinct die variety, VAM-1E of the 1883-O Morgan Dollar was subsequently eliminated from the active VAM listing after researchers determined it was identical to VAM-21A — a clashed dies variety. Discovered by Mike Emswiler in August 2003, the initial classification recognized what appeared to be a separate die pairing, but further examination revealed that the clashing characteristics matched those already documented under VAM-21A. Die clashing occurs when obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them, transferring design elements from one die to the other and leaving incuse impressions that appear as raised features on subsequently struck coins. The New Orleans Mint struck 8.73 million Morgan Dollars in 1883, a substantial production figure that generated numerous die pairs and consequently a large number of documented VAM varieties for this date. George T. Morgan's design, featuring Liberty's profile on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse, has been the subject of the most extensive die variety cataloging effort in American numismatics through the Van Allen-Mallis system. The elimination of VAM-1E into VAM-21A demonstrates the self-correcting nature of the VAM catalog, where ongoing research refines attributions and consolidates duplicates. Collectors should reference VAM-21A rather than 1E when seeking this clashed dies variety.

External References