1886-O VAM-5A

Description

Discovered in 2015, 1886-O VAM-5A is a New Orleans Mint Morgan dollar catalogued as 5A III2 3 C3a with the attribution Doubled 18, Clashed Obverse T. The obverse shows a clashed die with a partial incuse impression of "t" from TRUST transferred into the right hair vee of the lower hair edge. The doubling of 18 in the date, characteristic of the parent VAM-5, is also present. A double clash produced this variety: the second clash provided the "t" letter transfer and simultaneously obliterated most evidence of the first clash, though residual evidence of that first event persists on the reverse. The reverse is C3a with no independently distinguishing features. Clashed dies occur when obverse and reverse working dies strike each other without a planchet, pressing incuse mirror images onto the opposing face. Morgan dollars are 90% silver, designed by George T. Morgan. New Orleans Morgans carry the O mintmark and the 1886-O is conditionally scarce in higher Mint State grades. The double clash history and the "t" transfer in the hair vee make 1886-O VAM-5A a particularly compelling attribution in the New Orleans Morgan die variety canon.

External References