1887-O VAM-8

Description

Also discovered by Leroy Van Allen — this time in November 1973, four years before his identification of the related VAM-10 — this New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar is designated III2 8 - C3a (181) and represents another member of the doubled 87 subgroup. Where VAM-10 is characterized by die chips filling the loops of both 8s, VAM-8 presents a distinctly different doubling profile: the second 8 shows a thin curved line at its bottom left, while the 7 displays a short diagonal line positioned well below its bottom on the left side. The diagonal line beneath the 7 is particularly diagnostic because its position — clearly separated from the numeral rather than adjacent to it — suggests a more pronounced angular displacement during the secondary hubbing impression. A die chip between the loops of the first 8 on the left provides an additional attribution marker. Van Allen's discovery of both VAM-8 and VAM-10 across several years illustrates the iterative nature of die variety research, where systematic re-examination of the same date and mint yields new die marriages distinguished by subtle differences in doubling geometry.

External References