1886-O VAM-9

Description

Discovered by Leroy Van Allen in March 1974 — one of the two founding researchers whose combined initials with George Mallis created the VAM designation system — the 1886-O VAM-9 "Doubled 6" Morgan dollar documents visible doubling on the numeral 6 in the date. Cataloged as 9 III2 5 - C3a (Doubled 6) with die number 181, this variety features an Obverse III2 5 die where the top outside of the upper loop of the 6 shows a thin curved doubling line, indicating the date punch or hub impressed the 6 at a slightly shifted position during die preparation. George T. Morgan's silver dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint with a modest mintage of approximately 10.71 million coins in 1886, making the 1886-O a date that falls in the middle range of Morgan dollar production. Van Allen's March 1974 discovery dates to the foundational era of systematic Morgan dollar variety cataloging, when the framework that would eventually encompass thousands of die varieties was being constructed through meticulous examination of individual specimens. The doubled 6 diagnostic manifests as a thin curved line at the top outside of the numeral's upper loop — a secondary impression that traces the arc of the 6's bowl at a slightly displaced position from the primary impression. This type of date doubling can result from hub doubling (where the master hub impressed the date area twice) or from a repunched date (where the date punch was struck into the die at a slightly shifted position). The DPIS (Die Pair Identification System) entry remains unlisted, and emission sequence data for both obverse and reverse dies awaits further documentation. Collectors should examine the upper loop of the 6 under at least 15x magnification, looking for the thin curved secondary line that parallels the outer edge of the primary numeral impression.

External References