VAMWorld 2.0

Hawkeye, my first guess is that you have coins showing micro variations in the planchet, enhanced by the washing process. Certainly, I could be wrong and welcome correction. But this coin demonstrates my understanding of a strike through. Slab.jpg Close up of "sawdust" strike through. Strike thru.jp...

I'm no expert in this department, but it looks too ugly to be a counterfeit.
My guess is genuine and abused.

I enjoyed the article, especially the depiction of the Morgan Dollar.
I do question the statement that coin collecting is not a good investment.
It requires some study and understanding, but it as lucrative as many other fields of investment.
Thanks for sharing.

I fear that this is just the beginning.

I've found the DPIS to be a simple and powerful tool.
As I do not view most coins in hand, and have to rely on auction photos, the finer features of the coin may not be visible.
But even in a blurry picture, the date position is discernible.
Thanks for the constant improvements.

Are we talking cold inside or outside?
In Fahrenheit.

My take, and it is likely to vary as I learn more, is that the regulations cover what the mint must do with used dies. I haven't seen regulations having authority over someone that comes in possession of such dies. If I go to the dumpster behind the local Police department and recover a revolver the...

I'm amused by the thought that somewhere is a F 15 coin in an EF 45 holder.
And glad there isn't a website that exposes my errors.
Thanks for sharing.

I'm not really good at this, but if I had it in hand I would see if it was attracted to a magnet.

I have viewed that as oxidation.

Penned in 1624, and still true today.

My copy just arrived and at the risk of playing the fool, it is a gold mine of information. I'm not sure when I will be able to study the book, but I did take a quick at the section on regulations. As the regs appear to be written prior to the Reconstruction Amendments, I believe they are lawful (as...

I hope to upgrade my reference set to MS64 or better.

I believe you have one of the earliest know works of Pugsley Fenderbolt.
While he never achieved the status of Master Engraver, he was able to make a modest income making love tokens and hobo nickels.

I just ordered a copy from Wizzard and am embarrassed I waited so long.
I'm sure I'll have some more questions, but my brain is a little fuzzy as I didn't go to bed last night and still have a few hours work ahead of me.
Thanks All.

Beautiful coin and great photo.
For research purposes, it would be hard to find a better example.

I like rabbit holes, they offer much. And I have always said that VAMmers are the smartest people I have ever met. So let's share our views. Yes there is a problem with Chinese fakes, but that has nothing to do with legality, it is a problem of enforcement. The law is clear. And the Liberty Dollar a...

I recently purchased a VAM that was of low population. It is neither interesting nor rare I2 R6. The condition was better than the other two in the SSDC registry. Yet someone wanted it almost as badly as I did and made me pay dearly for it (several times PCGS or NGC values for an unattributed coin.)...

It's 7AM local time and I still haven't been to bed. Too many fun things to do I guess. I support the hard assets approach to investing. But I don't sell very often, so I guess I am a hoarder. My military training was geared to prepare for the worst. I'm doing it. I know there is a big premium on go...

Not everyone will recall, but Rob broached this subject back in Version 1.0 I would wonder if the dark streak isn't oxidation or a counting mark. To my thinking, the grease on a die leaves a spot on the coin. As visible here in the neck/wing gap. 7.JPG And with successive strikes, some of the grease...