1890-O VAM-1

Description

Serving as the baseline die pairing for the 1890 New Orleans Morgan Dollar, VAM-1 establishes the reference standard against which all other die varieties from this date and mint are measured. The New Orleans Mint produced 10,701,000 silver dollars in 1890, a robust output requiring numerous working die pairs and generating ample opportunity for die-specific characteristics to emerge. New Orleans coinage from the Morgan era is widely noted for generally weaker strikes compared to Philadelphia and San Francisco output — a consequence of equipment condition, die maintenance practices, and the sometimes hurried production pace at the Crescent City facility. George T. Morgan's design was struck in 90% silver at 26.73 grams on 38.1mm planchets. As the baseline VAM-1, this die combination defines what "normal" looks like for the 1890-O: its diagnostic features set the benchmark from which researchers identify deviations on higher-numbered varieties. Collectors assembling a comprehensive 1890-O VAM set begin here, using the baseline pairing as both a foundational acquisition and a comparison tool for evaluating other die combinations from this New Orleans year.

External References