VAMWorld 2.0

Dies by a left-handed engraver who was once a carnival barker...?

Have you tried basing your set on a specific cause -- such as only collapsed dies, or only reverse clashes, etc.?

Did the Mint roll dollars in 1878? I seem to recall that was not a thing at the time. No. The rolls collectors have today likely were made from Treasury Dept bags distributed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. An "original bag" commonly included coins struck from all the dollar presses in use at th...

A grid system will also work well, but it has to be locked to two reference points within the central design. Avoid edges of anything, if possible, since these vary with completeness of original master die/hub, transfer to die, steel distortion during heat treatments, strike pressure, die wear, loca...

There's no hard and fast rule as to why Leroy chose to do that, but typically it was because he felt the main features were substantially the same as those of another die pair. I have stopped doing this and have started undoing it for a few dates. 1878-S had many varieties listed like this, but I w...

Pythagoras would be thrilled at the use of the word , but I surely am left alone scratching my poor old bald head :lol: :lol: :lol: Well, can't do anything about the scratching, but the bald part is easily cured. Just do a comb-over from your armpit. :) Messydesk has the idea, except the reference ...

I've described it here several times (including above), and on other hobby message boards. The methodology is similar to what VAM collectors already do, except it uses only stable reference points -- as decided by the variety organization members. Four items cover it: Method: 1. Select two or three ...

Vampicker - The methodology has already been described (several times). It is as simple as any other, less accurate approach, but it is different. I presented the most consistent and accurate methodology. It is up to members of various variety groups to decide how they want to describe coins.

Really good post !

The only part of a coin design that is absolutely consistent is the central motif. No other element is fixed in relation to this - it's the same for dollars and almost all other US coins. Further, reference points in the central element must be interior to the feature so that minor changes in the fi...

Nope. That introduces additional inaccuracy. Measure directly in relation to two points within the central design for consistency.

Does the OP mean "census" or "population?" They are different.

Did Mr. Van Allen's 1979 descriptions make it into VAM-Lore and carried forward, or were changes made but not recorded or referenced back to the source?

fogie wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 20, 2023 9:09 pm

The date position is routinely guaged but relative position to the denticles.

That's convenient, but not the best way. ALL measurements must relate to the central figure. This is the only way to ensure consistency.

Cute.
But it will not have the sharpness of a manually cut design. It will have the same defects as the imitation Morgan and Peace dollars dated 2021, etc. Our mint could easily do better, but they don't.

"If Morgan dies lettering, numbers, and stars were all punched by hand after hubbing, would it be possible to identify the VAM just by using the relative position of each letter, number, stars, and of course the mint mark?" Possibly, if that were the case, but it was not. Only mintmarks and parts of...

This should also help members understand reasons for certain varieties among the first few years of Morgan dollar production.

The letter's date in "1905" not "1895." You can blame my fumble fingers for the mistake.

Mint of the United States at Philadelphia, October 6, 1880 Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th inst., enclosing a copy of a letter from the Coiner of the mint at Carson City, addressed to the superintendent of that mint, and I also have to acknowledge the recei...

RG104 E-43 Washington, December 19, 1905 Superintendent U.S. Mint, Philadelphia, Pa., Sir: Your letter of the 18th instant relative to the payment of standard silver dollars in exchange for gold coin has been received. In reply, I would respectfully state that when the treasurer directs you to make ...