1899-O VAM-18A

Description

Rickey Bailey discovered this New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar variety in February 2012, cataloged as VAM-18A III21 - C3f (High O Tilted Right, Die Gouge Leg) with unconfirmed rarity designated by "(?)" in the catalog. The reverse displays a heavy die gouge at the eagle's right leg, a substantial physical defect in the die surface that transfers as a raised mark on the struck coin. The reverse is further classified as C3f type, indicating a High O mint mark tilted to the right — a distinctive positioning that places the O above its standard location and angled away from vertical. Die Point Identification System (DPIS) markers LE3/RE4 provide precise die positioning coordinates used by advanced VAM researchers to confirm die identification through mathematical measurements. A historical note records that a prior variety designated 18A was reclassified and became VAM-11A, and the current listing inherited the 18A number after the renumbering — a common occurrence in the evolving VAM catalog as researchers revise classifications. The 1899-O Morgan Dollar had a mintage of 12,290,000, and the New Orleans Mint's tendency to produce coins with varied mint mark positions and tilts has generated a rich catalog of reverse die varieties. The combination of a high, tilted O with a heavy leg die gouge creates two independent attribution points that make this die marriage identifiable with confidence.

External References