1886-O VAM-14

Description

Discovered by Martin Field in April 1982 and personally confirmed by Leroy Van Allen (LVA), VAM-14 is classified as a "Far Date" variety on the 1886-O Morgan Dollar — the date sits further to the right than the standard placement, though the shift just barely qualifies for far-date status. Plated as 14 III2 10 - C3a on page 181, the designation identifies die pair 10 of Obverse Die Class III2, paired with a Reverse C3a. The New Orleans Mint struck 10.71 million silver dollars in 1886, a mintage that is not especially low, but the 1886-O is a date where condition rarity matters most — high-grade survivors are far scarcer than raw production numbers suggest, owing to heavy bag storage and Gulf Coast circulation. Far-date positioning originates from the placement of the date logotype during die preparation, a process where subtle variations in horizontal position were inevitable. Van Allen's personal confirmation adds provenance weight to the attribution. Collectors pursuing complete VAM sets for the 1886-O will find this variety essential, as the rightward date shift distinguishes it from the more commonly encountered die pairings.

External References