1903-O VAM-8

Description

Attributed to Martin Field in March 1981, this 1903 New Orleans Mint Morgan Dollar is designated VAM-8 and described as "High O Set Right" for the distinctive positioning of the mint mark — the O sits higher and further right than standard, with a slight tilt to the left. Mint mark placement on Morgan Dollars was a manual operation at the branch mints, and New Orleans's hand-punching process produced considerable positional variation that VAM researchers have systematically documented. The date features an "Open 9" — the 9 in 1903 displays an open loop rather than the fully closed loop seen on other dies, providing an additional obverse diagnostic. The VAM plate notation 8 III2 1 - C4e and die pair 181 anchor this variety in the Van Allen-Mallis system. The 1903-O holds special historical significance as one of the last Morgan Dollars produced at the New Orleans Mint, which would close permanently in 1909. Morgan Dollar production at New Orleans ended in 1904, making the 1903-O and 1904-O the facility's final contributions to the series. Collectors of New Orleans varieties recognize that each die pair from these terminal years represents part of the mint's closing chapter. =1903-O VAM-8 High O Set Right= Discovered by Martin Field, Martin Field, March 1981.

External References