1904-O VAM-1B2
Error
Description
Documented in 2007, VAM-1B2 records pitting in the letters OL and at the bottom of the eagle's left wing on the 1904-O Morgan Dollar reverse. Plate designation: 1B2 III21 · C4a, plate (189). The "B2" suffix indicates a later die state within the VAM-1B family, with added pitting at the bottom of the eagle's left wing distinguishing it from earlier states. Pitting on Morgan Dollar dies results from surface corrosion — typically rust forming during storage between production runs — which transfers as a rough, stippled texture onto struck coins. The pitting around OL and on the eagle's wing developed progressively, meaning later strikes show more extensive degradation. The 1904-O represents New Orleans Mint production during the penultimate year of the original Morgan Dollar series, as coinage ceased after 1904 and did not resume until 1921. Die state progression varieties like VAM-1B2 help researchers understand how dies deteriorated over their service life at the New Orleans facility.
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