1885-O VAM-14

Description

Discovered by Martin Field in October 1983 and revised in 2011, the 1885-O VAM-14 Morgan Dollar carries the revised classification 14 III2 7 – C3b (Dash Under 8, O Shifted Right) with die pairing number 181. The obverse (III2 7) exhibits a short dash positioned well below the second 8 in the date, accompanied by a vertical mark on the denticle underneath the 8 — two distinct features in the same area that provide redundant diagnostic markers for confident attribution. The dash under the 8 is a die anomaly whose origin may be a shallow die scratch, a remnant of die polishing, or a minor tool mark from die preparation. The reverse (C3b) features a mintmark shifted to the right of the standard O position, and some later die states show a single fine vertical line between the ED in UNITED extending up to the denticles, likely from a feed finger scrape — a mechanical contact mark caused by the feed fingers that advance planchets into the striking chamber, which can leave distinctive linear marks on the die surface when misaligned. George T. Morgan's design was struck at the New Orleans Mint in 1885 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The 1885-O had a substantial mintage of approximately 9.2 million pieces. The 2011 revision updated the variety's classification to incorporate improved understanding of the die characteristics. The feed finger scrape attribution on later die states is particularly interesting from a manufacturing perspective, as it documents a mechanical interaction between the coinage press equipment and the die surface that occurs during production rather than during die manufacture, adding a production-process marker to the die's history beyond the standard hub-derived varieties and die preparation marks.

External References