1898-O VAM-8

Description

Discovered by Leonard Hinckley in February 1974, this 1898-O Morgan Dollar carries the VAM-8 classification 8 III2 4 - C3c (181) and is characterized as a Near Date variety with the O mint mark tilted to the right. The date is set further left than the normal position for this issue, placing the numerals closer to the rim than typically seen. The medium-sized O mint mark sits centered but is noticeably tilted to the right, a result of the mint mark punch being applied at a slight angle when the working die was prepared. New Orleans Morgan Dollars from 1898 had a mintage of approximately 4.44 million, and the Near Date positioning combined with the tilted O provides a reliable two-point diagnostic for attribution. VAM-8 was among the earlier varieties cataloged for this date, reflecting the pioneering work of collectors like Hinckley who systematically examined Morgan Dollars for die-specific characteristics during the 1970s, a formative period for the Van Allen-Mallis classification system. The leftward date shift is best confirmed by comparing spacing between the 1 and the denticles against known normal-date examples.

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