1903-O VAM-11

Description

Discovered by Holzein in February 1990, this New Orleans Morgan Dollar is cataloged as VAM-11, classified III2 2, C3a (High O) (181). The reverse shows the O mint mark set slightly high compared to the standard centered position, while remaining centered horizontally and upright. Researchers have noted what they believe is a typographical error in the official listing, where the reverse is described as C3 but may actually be C4. Additionally, the numeral 1 in the date has a tiny trace of doubling visible below the flag portion of the digit, a subtle feature that adds an unlisted diagnostic element. The 1903-O is a key date in the Morgan Dollar series, with its significance heightened by the fact that hundreds of thousands of uncirculated examples were released from Treasury vaults in the 1960s after decades in storage. New Orleans Mint marks set higher or lower than typical position resulted from variations in how the mint mark punch was applied to individual working dies, making each placement variation a unique die identifier.

External References