1887-O Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Holding the primary DDO catalog position for the 1887-O Morgan Dollar and cross-referenced as VAM 22 in the Van Allen-Mallis system, WDDO-001 was cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1887-O $1 WDDO-001. The doubling manifests to the south on Liberty's eyelid and on all stars toward the rim — a comprehensive obverse doubling that affects both the central portrait and the peripheral star ring on George T. Morgan's Liberty Head design. Obverse die markers provide rich attribution detail: two L-shaped die gouges below the T in LIBERTY in the hair, two small die gouges on the upper right side of Y in LIBERTY running southeast, and die polish marks in the lower areas of hair on the back of the head below the Phrygian cap. The reverse die shows extensive pitting on the lower feathers of the eagle's tail and between the eagle tail and ribbon — surface deterioration most likely resulting from rust on the die, a condition that developed when dies were stored in the humid New Orleans Mint environment without adequate protection. The 1887-O Morgan Dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint in 90% silver at 26.73 grams on 38.1mm planchets, with a mintage of 11,550,000. The dual attribution as both WDDO-001 and VAM 22 provides collectors with cross-referencing between two major catalog systems, enhancing identification confidence.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Richard M. Prouty (Photos by Frank M. Zapushek) Cross References: VAM 22
• VAM 22; Wexler Variety ID: 1887-O $1 WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References