1900-O VAM-21C

Description

Discovered in November 2007 and cataloged by VAMWorld, this 1900 New Orleans Morgan Dollar VAM-21C combines a near date and high O mintmark with a shallow diagonal die scratch running through the O mint mark from the right bow ribbon down to the D — the defining reverse diagnostic that distinguishes this C substage from other VAM-21 pairings. Designated 21C III2 5 C3l (Near Date, High O, Die Scratch O Mint Mark), the reverse die variety C3l identifies this specific die by the scratch through the mintmark. The near date obverse position (III2 5) refers to the placement of the date digits closer to the denticles than on standard die alignments, while the high O indicates the mintmark is positioned higher than typical on the reverse. The 1900-O Morgan Dollar was struck at the New Orleans Mint during the twilight years of that facility — it would close permanently in 1909 — and New Orleans Morgan Dollars from the turn of the century are among the most actively collected issues in the series. The die scratch through the O mintmark is the type of incidental die damage that VAM researchers meticulously document because such marks are unique to individual dies and provide definitive attribution even when other diagnostics are ambiguous. VAM-21C represents one of multiple substages documented for the VAM-21 die combination, each identified by progressive die damage or specific die characteristics.

External References