1891-O VAM-8A

Description

Revised in 2012, VAM-8A on the 1891 New Orleans Morgan Dollar combines a high-set O mintmark with significant die damage on the reverse, cataloged under die pair III2 1 with a C3e reverse. The reverse exhibits a die crack running through the tops of MERIC in AMERICA, accompanied by a large die break at the upper right of the M and a displaced field break between M and E extending upward to the rim above M. The displaced field break — where metal is pushed outward from the crack into the surrounding field — represents advanced die deterioration beyond simple cracking, indicating a die retained in service after substantial structural failure. The C3e reverse classification distinguishes this cracked die from other reverse dies used on 1891-O Morgan Dollars. The mintmark position — O set high — is an independent diagnostic feature, placed higher than standard during hand-punching at the New Orleans Mint. Mintmark position and die crack patterns together provide collectors with two distinct identification criteria for this variety, allowing confident attribution even on moderately worn specimens where one feature might be difficult to discern independently.

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