1887-O VAM-1A

Description

Discovered by Brian Raines in October 2005, the 1887-O VAM-1A is a Morgan dollar variety struck at the New Orleans Mint featuring a Clashed Obverse G. Classified as III2 1 - C3a (Clashed Obverse G) (181), this variety documents a die clash event that transferred a reverse design element onto the obverse die. The Morgan dollar is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The New Orleans Mint produced 11,550,000 Morgan dollars in 1887, making the 1887-O one of the more available New Orleans dates in the series. Die clashing occurs when the obverse and reverse dies come into contact without a planchet between them, leaving incuse impressions of one die's design elements on the opposing die's surface. On VAM-1A, the clash transferred a partial incuse G from the word GOD on the reverse, leaving it visible next to Liberty's neck on the obverse. This type of letter transfer clash is one of the more dramatic and visually interesting forms of clashing, as the transferred letter is clearly identifiable and provides an immediate attribution point. VAMWorld notes that the date and mintmark position are unremarkable on this variety, meaning collectors should focus on the clashed G for identification rather than looking for positioning anomalies. Late die state specimens will exhibit a die chip on the right side of the second 8, where the upper and lower loops meet, providing a secondary diagnostic for determining die state progression. Brian Raines' discovery of this variety at the New Orleans Mint adds to the substantial catalog of clashed die Morgan dollar varieties, documenting the production challenges inherent in the high-speed coining operations at this historic Southern facility.

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