1889-O VAM-14A

Error

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Verified LegacyVAM Variety

Market Value

N/A

Rarity Index

N/A

Discovery Date

1889

Last Sold

N/A

Description

Attributed by LD Lane (ChiefRet) in 2019, VAM-14A for the 1889-O Morgan Dollar is classified III2 9 C3a, designated "Doubled 9 and Ear," with reference number 181. This New Orleans Mint issue in 90% silver shows slightly doubled detail at the right inside and bottom of the earlobe on Liberty's portrait — subtle doubling requiring careful examination under magnification. The obverse, classified III2 9, carries diagnostic die markers including a single diagonal polishing line at the top middle of T and a couple of polishing lines at the top of Y in LIBERTY. These fine polishing lines are remnants of die preparation and provide essential confirmation when attributing this variety. An important cataloging distinction: VAM-14 appears to represent a different die pair from VAM-14A, meaning the two should be treated as separate die marriages despite sharing the primary VAM number. The "A" suffix indicates a related but distinct variety within the VAM-14 family. New Orleans struck approximately 11.9 million Morgan Dollars in 1889, and the ear doubling on this variety places it among portrait-focused die varieties that attract Morgan Dollar specialists seeking subtle die anomalies.