1883 O Morgan with Clash Marks - Is this a VAM?

MrSpud

Today, while rummaging through the offerings at a local flea market, I picked up an 1883 O Morgan that I thought at first had a repunched mintmark. However, after bringing it home and looking at it again, the Morgan turns to have clashmarks instead of being a RPM. At least that's my current theory after looking at it under the microscope. It has what appears to be the top of the wheat-seedhead hitting in the center of the mintmark as well as a spike between the left wing and the N of In God We Trust (that seems to be a clash from Libertys Neck on the reverse), and also a little spike coming out of Libertys neck on the obverse (that seems to be a clash from the left wingtip). I can also make out a clash of the back of Libertys cap and hair on the reverse in the right field of the reverse next to and above the arrowheads. Could this be some kind of VAM?
Thanks,
MrSpud

DorkGirl

Clashed dies are very cool, but not VAMs. I've found clashed dies on almost every date and MM in the Morgan series. Clashed dies don't have any premium, where a really nice VAM will. Every Morgan has a VAM number, it's die pairing. Some of the fatigued dies cracked, this will show up on the coin as raised metal. Check out this website VAMs it will get you started. Try Rob's website too.

VamCollector

Actually, there are some clashed dies that do have significant value and do have Vam #s assigned to them. The 1886-O, 1888-O and 1889-Os with the clashed "E" on the reverse are worth quite a bit. Most of the major clashes are seen on the reverse but I know of a clashed obverse from 1887 (I believe) with lettering from the reverse showing on the obverse. I have seen that coin (unique as far as I know) and it is spectacular. There are other clashed dies but the ones I listed are some of the biggest as far as collectability.

DorkGirl

That's right, I forgot about the "E"s.