1896-O VAM-10A

Description

Discovered by John Coxe in December 2004 and designated by Leroy Van Allen in May 2006, this New Orleans Morgan dollar is cataloged as VAM-10A under classification III2 6 with a C3a reverse, formally titled Doubled 1 and Profile, Tail Gouge. The defining reverse feature is a short horizontal die gouge extending from the first right tail feather, sometimes described as emerging from the second tail feather counted from the right. Heavy diagonal polishing lines run through the middle of the eagle's left wing, evidence of aggressive die maintenance during production. The obverse carries the doubled 1 and profile characteristics inherited from the VAM-10 family. Collectors distinguishing VAM-10A from the parent VAM-10 should focus on the tail feather gouge and the diagonal polish lines in the eagle's wing on the reverse, as these features mark the specific die state that earned the A sub-designation. New Orleans Morgan dollars from 1896 are scarce relative to Philadelphia and San Francisco production, and the combination of a doubled obverse profile with distinctive reverse die work gives this variety strong collector appeal.

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