1885-O VAM-9 Doubled 885, Low Date, Doubled Ear

Discovered by Maurice Dubreuil, February 1975, Revised May 2017 by Nate Mailliard
9 III2 8 - C3a (Doubled 885, Low Date, Doubled Ear) (181) I-4 R-5
Obverse III2 8 - Large vertical shift in 885. Left 8 very slightly doubled at top right inside of lower loop. Both 8's show a curved spike slanting down to left from middle right inside of lower loop. 5 has a faint horizontal curved line at lower inside of loop, and a vertical bar at left outside of loop opening. Slightly doubled top of Phrygian cap. Date set low with slight slant down to right so 5 is very close to rim. Slightly doubled ear at left and right inside and right outside and bottom on later die states.
Reverse C3a - III O mint mark set slightly high.

Comments:
1. This die pair is prone to strong strike doubling on the reverse.

Threads:

LVA Plate Photos:

Additional Photos:

Die Line in Cotton Blossoms The O MM is set high (strike doubling on MM of this example).
Mint mark.
Date placement.
Full Date.
As you can see inside the lower loop of the first 8, the radius of curvature of the underdigit suggests the punches were originally too small. They were likely aligned at the tops with the top of the 1.
As you can see inside the lower loop of the first 8, the radius of curvature of the underdigit suggests the punches were originally too small. They were likely aligned at the tops with the top of the 1.
The smaller but top-aligned punches would also agree in the case of the 5, where the ball of the digit was originally too high.