1902 O Morgan VAM?

note the 2 is not filled on the VW plate3 photo's, but Alans book posts them, VW does post your date and Cracks..

yes, the filled 2 were on many dies for 02, I don't believe they are direct PUP'S, but do help, one still has to use date and MM and reverse types to narrow them down..

There is only one 1902-O VAM known (at this time)that has pitting around D in dollar. That VAM is VAM 18.

In my opinion, one aspect of this site which makes it stand out, head and shoulders above the others, is the willingness of you guys to jump in and help a newbie out like you have. I recall at some other locations, a cry for help from a new person might be met with aloofness, or a demeanor of unwillingness due to the belief that their knowledge had come at great cost, and worth more than just the appreciation of the inquirer.

It ain't over yet prlahr, one of these guys will come up with the correct answer, I can just feel it.

By the way, I recall asking Alan when he announced that he was deep into researching the '02-O, just why did he pick this particular date/mm to zero in on...("were all of the interesting dates already taken?") I expected such obvious jest to be returned in kind, but the response was serious and I thought that this was rather out of character for such a dry wit. Now a book ensues, I should have suspected this, but am surprised nonetheless.

There are a couple of things to note: Vamming is a continual work in progress. John Roberts ( a VAM attributor) put it nicely when he said, "think of it as moving pieces on a chessboard. I'd go even further and say it compares to assembling a jigsaw puzzle without the boxtop as a guide. We have only a fuzzy idea of what 'the big picture' really is until most of the pieces are in their proper place."

I believe there is no doubt this coin is VAM 32,
1) I do believe we can all agree that the date placement is normal..
also note these pictures are yours just blown up showing 2 specific things A the cracks at the neck to the date and specifically the gouge under the first left star of the date

this is a excerpt from the book of the first left star gouges found on some coins.


2) also not that your earlier photo clearly shows it to be c4/c3 2nd olive reverse
VAM 18 and VAM 18A are c4 single olive reverse coins..here is your photo of the mint mark.. set right lilted left

Note the D...is not pitted the pitting is NOT raised as VAM 18A is...here is the plate of VAM 18A


VAM world plates to not show all of these things but the book does...
Vam32

You know Gene, I wasn't going to get into the pitting thing, but I never really did buy what looks to me as a depression ( PMD) on the coin, to be a pit in the coin. Only the OP could verify if it is raised or not, but I do see a difference in the pitting on your photo of 18A, and the lack of it on the OP's coin. Yeah, the area around the star is the same. You say that the crack is also identical? Are there more pup photos from the book that the OP could use to compare to his/her coin? We are not doing anything wrong by posting these pictures from the book are we?

At this point, all I see that is 32ish is the star. Does the 32 share this obverse with any other varieties? Can you nail down the reverse also?

Yess there are a few more pointers for VAM 32,, the doubled ear I believe is shown in his picture, just not well enough do to the angle of the picture trying to shoot thru a loupe..
there is a specific die file line on the upper most arrow head, about the middle of the arrow head..The filled 2, is known on many that year for being later die states, the one posted on VAM World is an EDS..
also there are very minor rim Cuds that from his pictures can not be seen...though he should be able to see them with his loupe.. also doubled eagles nostril and eye...