1885-O VAM-30

Description

Discovered in 2011 by David Tackett, the 1885-O VAM-30 Morgan Dollar carries the dual designation "Doubled Left 8, O Tilted Right." Classified as III2 22 - C3i, the obverse displays slight doubling on the top inside of the left 8's upper loop, while the reverse features a III-style O mint mark in normal position with a slight tilt to the right. A die gouge in the hair gap above the second 8 provides an additional diagnostic marker for authenticating this die pair. The combination of obverse date doubling with a tilted reverse mint mark places VAM-30 at the intersection of two distinct variety categories, offering collectors a coin with attributable features on both sides. The New Orleans Mint produced 1885-O Morgan Dollars in large numbers, and this date is well known in the VAM community for its numerous die varieties. The hand-punched mint mark tilting slightly rightward reflects the inherent variability in the manual application process, while the doubled left 8 records a separate event during hub-to-die transfer where misalignment impressed a secondary image of the numeral.

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