1894-O VAM-6A

Description

Discovered by Richard Verdi in February 2006, VAM-6A on the 1894-O Morgan dollar is cataloged as 6A III24 · C3a (Very Near Date, Die Break L) with a die pair number of 181. The primary diagnostic feature is on the reverse: a die crack running through the bottom of OLLA in DOLLAR, with a notable break developing at the lower right of the second L. Die breaks like this form when hairline cracks in the steel die progressively widen under striking pressure, eventually causing raised metal ridges on the struck coin as planchet material flows into the crack. What makes this die pairing particularly notable is the rotated reverse — approximately 25 degrees counterclockwise from the normal alignment between obverse and reverse dies. Rotated die errors occur when the reverse die works loose in its collar and shifts before tightening, or when a die is installed at an incorrect angle. The combination of a die break variety with a significant rotation adds a second layer of collectible interest. The 1894-O is already one of the lower-mintage New Orleans Morgan dollar dates, and the VAM-6A die state with its progressive break and rotation makes it scarcer still among VAM collectors pursuing the complete 1894-O die marriage catalog.

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