1889-O VAM-16C

Description

A late die state variant within the VAM-16 family, VAM-16C on the 1889-O Morgan Dollar is defined by its Far Date, High O positioning, and a distinctive die break between the right S in STATES and OF on the reverse. Discovered in 2012, the reverse die classified C3f exhibits a radial die crack running between those two legend elements along with a small displaced field break near the rim — signs of progressive die deterioration that distinguish this C stage from earlier states of the same die pair. The plate notation 16C III2 8 with C3f positions this variety as a substage within the broader VAM-16 die marriage, where the same obverse and reverse dies were tracked across multiple states of wear and cracking. The 1889-O Morgan Dollar was produced at the New Orleans Mint with a mintage of approximately 11.9 million pieces, though survival rates in higher grades are notably lower due to heavy bagging and circulation in the Deep South economy. The die break between STATES and OF serves as the primary diagnostic separating VAM-16C from its earlier stages, offering cherrypickers a clear visual target when examining 1889-O specimens.

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