1898-O VAM-7

Description

Discovered by Leonard Hinckley in February 1974 during the early years of VAM research, this 1898-O Morgan Dollar features two positional anomalies: the date set further left than normal (designated "Near Date") and the O mint mark set higher than standard position ("O Set High"). The VAM plate reads 7 III2 4 - C3b with die pair 181, where the reverse die class C3b distinguishes it from the more common C3a pairing. Positional varieties arise during die preparation, when placement of punched elements varies slightly from die to die because each punch was applied by hand. A date set further left would be positioned closer to the rim on the left side, while a high-set O mint mark sits above the typical centered position between the eagle's tail feathers and the wreath. The combination of both positional shifts makes this a dual-diagnostic variety, with obverse and reverse each carrying an identifying characteristic. Leonard Hinckley's 1974 discovery places this among the earliest documented VAM varieties for the date. Cataloged by VAMWorld, this classic positional variety combines date and mint mark placement anomalies from the final decade of original Morgan Dollar production.

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