1885-O VAMs

Mintage	9,185,000
Dies Used	124 pairs
Rarity in PL	5/10 (less common)
Die Study	yes

One of the common dates released by the millions along with 83-O and 84-O during the 1962 Treasury release, 1885-O can be easily found in all grades. Strike and luster can be an issue, so it's best to be choosy, especially given the availability. Deep mirror prooflike specimens are not as common as for 83-O or 84-O, although normal prooflike coins aren't difficult to find. It is common to find 85-O with embedded sawdust, as that is how planchets were dried at the mint. There is not much of major interest in terms of varieties for this date. Changing from the oval O to the round O mint mark seemingly eliminated a lot of repunched mint marks. There are a few minor repunched dates and one notable shattered obverse die (VAM 25A).

Attribution Guides for 1885-O

1885-O Obverses
1885-O Reverses
1885-O Dashed 8s

Official VAM Listing

1885-O VAM-1 Normal Die
1885-O VAM-1A Rusted Wing
1885-O VAM-1C Die gouges wing
1885-O VAM-2 Doubled 5
1885-O VAM-3 Doubled 18
1885-O VAM-4 Doubled 18
1885-O VAM-5 Slanted High Far Date
1885-O VAM-7 Dash Under 8 (May be the same as VAM-14)
1885-O VAM-9 Doubled 885, Low Date, Doubled Ear
1885-O VAM-10 Dash Under 8, Bar Ear
1885-O VAM-11 Far Date, High O, Die Gouge Wreath
1885-O VAM-12 O/O Left
1885-O VAM-13 Far Date
1885-O VAM-14 Dash Under 8, O shifted right
1885-O VAM-15 Doubled AMERICA, Gouge in Wing (LVA: "Tentatively eliminated, likely LDS of VAM 28")
1885-O VAM-16 Dash Under 8, Far Date, Doubled Arrows, O Shifted Right
1885-O VAM-17 8 in Denticles, Far Date
1885-O VAM-18 Doubled 18 Top & Ear, Far Date
1885-O VAM-18A Doubled 18 Top & Ear, Far Date, Die Scratch D, Break E *Revised 2019*
1885-O VAM-18B Doubled 18 Top & Ear, Far Date, Clashed Obverse N *New 2019*
1885-O VAM-19 Doubled Ear, High O (AKA VAM 9)
1885-O VAM-20 Doubled Ear Right (AKA VAM 9)
1885-O VAM-21 Far Date, Doubled 5 Weak
1885-O VAM-22 Doubled Arrow Feathers
1885-O VAM-23 Doubled Arrow Shafts, O Set Right
1885-O VAM-24 Doubled Ear Right and Arrows
1885-O VAM-25 Faint Dash Under 8
1885-O VAM-25A Faint Dash Under 8, Breaks Top of Cap & RI (WOW! Morgan VAM)
1885-O VAM-26 Doubled 18
1885-O VAM-28 1 in Denticles, Doubled AMERICA, Gouge in Wing
1885-O VAM-29 Doubled 885, Dash 8
1885-O VAM-30 Doubled Left 8, O Tilted Right
1885-O VAM-31 Doubled Ear, O Tilted Right
1885-O VAM-33 Faint Scribbles Face, Doubled Arrows, Die Scratches Wings)
1885-O VAM-34 Slightly Doubled 88, Light Polishing Lines Face & Neck
1885-O VAM-35 Dash Under 8, O/O Left Slanted, Thread Impression Upper Lip *New 2020*

List of Past VAM Assignments

1885-O VAM 1B (Eliminated, became VAM-25A)
1885-O VAM-1D Die scratches wing (Eliminated, same as VAM-33)
1885-O VAM-5A Slanted High Far Date, Die Scratch D (Eliminated, became VAM-18A)
1885-O VAM-6 Low Date (Eliminated, same as VAM-9)
1885-O VAM-8 (Eliminated, became VAM 23, O Shifted Right
1885-O VAM-11A Eliminated as die gouge is found in earliest die state. Far Date, High O, Die Gouge Wreath
1885-O VAM-13A Far Date, Clashed Obverse N
1885-O VAM-27 Far Date, Doubled Ear (Eliminated, became VAM-18A)
1885-O VAM-32 Far Date, O Shifted Right (Eliminated, same as VAM-28)

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Legend:
Photos of diagnostics shown on page.
Full-coin photo of VAM.
VAM has been eliminated altogether or phased into another number.
No photos posted for this VAM.
This VAM is recognized by PCGS.
This VAM is recognized by NGC.
As ANACS, SEGS, ICG, and Variety Slabbing Service (VSS) recognize all VAMs currently in the official listings, no icon is shown for these services.