1896-O VAM-28A

Description

Designated by LateDateMorganGuy in 2021, VAM-28A on the 1896-O Morgan Dollar carries the classification III2 1 with reverse C3h and the title "O Set Right, Die Gouge Above O." The reverse C3h designation documents a long thin die gouge positioned above the mintmark O in the word ONE — a linear surface defect on the reverse die that transfers as a raised line on struck specimens, situated directly above the New Orleans Mint's O mintmark. However, this variety carries an unusual cataloging status: it is described as a "2 for 1" — a predictive listing created by combining a known obverse die with a predicted reverse die state that has not yet been confirmed on an actual coin. The notation explicitly states the variety "has not actually been discovered yet" and that it will be supported in the SSDC (Silver and Silver-Dollar Club) registry when and if a specimen is discovered to actually exist. This predictive cataloging approach — assigning a VAM number in advance of physical discovery — represents a forward-looking methodology where die state analysis and die marriage predictions generate theoretical listings based on known die combinations and expected deterioration patterns. The obverse III2 1 classification and the O Set Right mintmark position identify the known components of the predicted die pairing. Struck at the New Orleans Mint in 90% silver at 26.73 grams, the 1896-O Morgan Dollar had a mintage of approximately 4.9 million pieces. Collectors encountering an 1896-O with an O set right and a long thin die gouge above the O should photograph the specimen and contact VAMWorld researchers, as confirmed discovery would activate this pre-assigned listing and potentially establish the discoverer's name in the VAM registry.

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