1884-O VAM-5C

Description

Discovered by Richard Lang in August 2005, the 1884-O VAM-5C Morgan Dollar combines a far date position with a clashed obverse showing transferred st and a die split developing on the obverse surface. Classified 5C III24 C3a, the C suffix tracks progressive deterioration within the VAM-5 family. A die crack runs upward from the fifth left star, crossing Liberty's hair and continuing across the Phrygian cap — a dramatic path spanning a substantial portion of the obverse. Catalog notes flag this as a possible duplicate of VAM-37A2, meaning researchers are evaluating whether the two designations describe the same die pair at different stages or genuinely distinct dies. The clashed st remnants — partial letters transferred during a planchet-less strike — combine with the structural die split to create a multi-feature variety. The far date placement provides an additional diagnostic for initial sorting. The New Orleans Mint struck 9,730,000 Morgan Dollars in 1884, and the extensive catalog reflects sustained research across that large population.

External References