A fun 1890-O VAM-13(A) die study in the making

[keilg1]

I have two coins that both show extensive die fatigue that match the http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compu ... -O_VAM-13A description. I'll show more pictures later but wanted to post something straightaway.

Interestingly to me, the 13A pictures (of my coins as well as the ones shown on the webpage) do not match the 13 MM description as 'high' - making me wonder if this is the correct nomenclature for this supposed family. The 13 clearly is high to me and matches the description.

Beyond this is the fun I'm seeing already around the MM itself. Take a look and see if you'd be potentially misled to judge one of these a normal MM and the other an O/O flavor...

Coin #1:

1890OV13A_coin#1.jpg (101.7 KiB) Viewed 201 times

Coin #2:

1890OV13A_coin#2.jpg (94.72 KiB) Viewed 201 times

And a bit closer look at coin #2's MM:

1890OV13A_coin#2 details.jpg (150.62 KiB) Viewed 201 times

Based on die fatigue and clash PUPs, coin #1 is an earlier die state than coin #2... could the supposed 'doubling' of the MM be simple die fatigue? If so, one might note that the supposed ear doubling of the 13A is not seen on coin #1 but appears to be on coin #2...

More pictures to follow later but raises the question about MM and/or ear doubling being 'real' or vestiges of fatigue.

[keilg1]

Just curious, @fogie or @Mhomei, I see you have versions of this variety (SSDC database) -- can you post pictures of the MM?

[Mhomei]

I will pull mine

[fogie]

Mine is in the vault 1000 miles away. I should be able to catch up with it in about a month and can investigate then.

[Mhomei]

1890-O-VAM13A-MHI-MM 800.JPG (231.36 KiB) Viewed 121 times

[keilg1]

1890-O-VAM13A-MHI-MM 800.JPG

Thanks! Looks like yours is an intermediate to advanced state with more die fatigue similar to my second coin. Interestingly, the MM looks vanilla ice cream like (plain) which makes mine even more curious. I highly doubt mine is a true O/O because everything flies in the face of that likelihood, but it certainly doesn't look like PMD (to me).

Your MM is also not what I'd call high - would you agree?