1902-O VAM-6

Description

Discovered by George Mallis in June 1965, the 1902-O VAM-6 is a mintmark position variety on the New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar designed by George T. Morgan. Cataloged as III2 1 - C4c with die-pair designation 181, this variety carries an Interest rating of I-1 and a Rarity rating of R-2, indicating modest collector interest paired with common availability — making it an accessible entry point for collectors exploring late-date Morgan Dollar varieties. The obverse displays a closed 9 in the date, where the tail of the numeral curves inward toward the body of the digit. The reverse is defined by a mintmark set high and tilted left, a positioning that occurred when the Mint worker angled the O punch while impressing it into the working die. Mallis identified this variety during the foundational survey of Morgan Dollar die pairings conducted alongside Leroy Van Allen, producing the catalog system that remains the standard reference for the series. The 1902-O is one of the later New Orleans issues before the Mint's closure in 1909, and its substantial surviving population ensures collectors can locate examples with patience.

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