1886-O VAM-1E

Description

Originally discovered in 2010, the 1886-O VAM-1E "Thread-Like Impression Neck" Morgan dollar has been eliminated from the active VAM catalog and split into two replacement entries: VAM-1E1 and VAM-1E2. The original listing described a curved thread-like die impression at the back of Liberty's neck on the obverse, cataloged as 1E III2 1 - C3a (Thread-Like Impression Neck) (181). George T. Morgan's Liberty portrait, modeled after Philadelphia schoolteacher Anna Willess Williams, presents a detailed neck and hair area where anomalous die impressions are readily visible. New Orleans struck approximately 10.71 million Morgan dollars in 1886, a date that sits among the moderate O-mint productions of the 1880s. The elimination of VAM-1E and its replacement by VAM-1E1 and VAM-1E2 reflects the ongoing refinement process inherent to the VAM classification system — as researchers examine more specimens, varieties initially grouped under a single designation sometimes prove to represent two or more distinct dies, necessitating a split into separate catalog entries with more precise diagnostic criteria. The thread-like impression itself — a curved, fine linear mark at the back of Liberty's neck — could originate from various die preparation events: a foreign fiber caught between hub and die during sinking, a tool mark from die finishing, or an artifact of the die hardening process. Collectors encountering 1886-O Morgan dollars with a curved line at the back of the neck should consult the current VAM-1E1 and VAM-1E2 descriptions rather than attempting attribution to the eliminated VAM-1E, as the split entries provide the refined diagnostics necessary for accurate die identification.

External References