1884-O VAM-2

Description

Discovered by Elwood Scarritt in April 1964, the 1884-O VAM-2 "Round O" Morgan dollar documents a reverse die bearing a circular III-style O mintmark with wide opening, distinguishing it from the more common oval or micro O mintmark types seen on other 1884-O die pairings. Cataloged as 2 III2 1 · C3b (Round O) with die number 181, this variety pairs a standard Obverse III2 1 with a Reverse C3b — a normal C3-type reverse that carries the distinctive round mintmark as its identifying characteristic. George T. Morgan's silver dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint with an approximate mintage of 9.73 million coins in 1884, a date well-known among Morgan dollar collectors for its availability in uncirculated condition from long-stored Treasury bags. Elwood Scarritt's April 1964 discovery places this among the earliest documented VAM varieties for the date, established during the formative years of systematic Morgan dollar die study that preceded the formal publication of the Van Allen-Mallis comprehensive catalog. The round O mintmark — described as circular with a wide opening — results from the specific mintmark punch used for this die, as the New Orleans facility employed multiple O-letter punches over the years that varied in shape from nearly circular to distinctly oval. Mintmark shape analysis represents one of the foundational classification techniques in VAM study, as the specific punch characteristics are permanently established during die preparation and provide a reliable diagnostic that remains consistent across all coins struck from that die regardless of wear or die state. The distinction between round and oval O mintmarks is best evaluated under moderate magnification by comparing the height-to-width ratio of the letter against reference specimens of confirmed normal and round O varieties.

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