1898-O VAM-3

Description

Originally discovered by Leroy Van Allen in May 1967, the 1898-O VAM-3 Doubled 18 Top represents one of the earlier VAM attributions for this New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar date, cataloged as 3 III2 3 - C3a (Doubled 18 Top) with a rarity index of 181. The doubled date diagnostic is precise: the numeral 1 is doubled at the top appearing as a notch, while the second 8 shows slight doubling at the top left and bottom right inside of the upper loop. This doubled date pattern — affecting only the first two digits — indicates the date was punched into the die in multiple operations, with a slight positional shift between the punching of the 18 and the subsequent alignment. The DPIS (Die Progression and Identification System) reference remains unassigned for this variety. Morgan Dollar dates were applied to working dies using four-digit logotype punches during much of the series' production run, though individual digit punches were also used in certain years, and the specific pattern of doubling on VAM-3 — concentrated on the 18 with the notch on the 1 being the most prominent feature — helps researchers determine which punching method was employed. The 1898-O Morgan Dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint during the period following the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, when silver dollar production continued using existing bullion reserves. Van Allen's 1967 discovery date places this attribution among the foundational VAM identifications that helped establish the systematic study of Morgan Dollar die varieties — a field that now catalogs thousands of individual varieties across the series' 1878-1921 production span.

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