VAMWorld 2.0

Lots of stuff in that sale. I rained a bunch of "bookmark" bids down on it earlier today.

PCGS labels both VAM 14.1 and 14.1A as VAM 14.1. The clashed one (14.1A) is common, while the unclashed one (14.1) is quite rare.

LateDateMorganGuy wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 27, 2023 7:49 pm

So if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

And don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

Messydesk has the idea, except the reference points must be within the central design, but not to a junction of field and element edge or any external point. I think the only point I chose that would be problematic in this respect is the tip of the bust, as it can stretch from wear or be polished a...

1881-O VAM 16. Cool collapsed reverse die, always DMPL. Obverse still DMPL on its next marriage. Of the 1000ish coins I went through on Hawkeeye's 81-O project, I think maybe 2 were VAM 16. This variety is both rare and cool.

I would think it is situational as well… If the listing was specifically for obverse features and both pairs show no real listable features on different reverses, then die pair 1&2 “should” be adequate? Because the obverse is the listing. Does that sound fair @messydesk ? Sort of. The 1921 3P examp...

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 wo...

alefzero wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 26, 2023 12:58 am

Did the Mint roll dollars in 1878? I seem to recall that was not a thing at the time.

It wasn't. I would consider an original roll of Morgans one that was rolled by a bank fresh from a bag that was opened once rolling became a thing.

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...

8 different obverse dies and 5 different reverse dies doesn't sound like an original roll, rather one that was put together from searching treasury bags. Either way, still cool.

VamHelsing wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 25, 2023 5:10 pm

I got to see an original roll of 8TFs about 7-8 years ago, composed of 3 different common VAMs.

Seeing 2-3 die pairs in a roll is often a really good indicator that it's an original roll.

The chip in the 2 you're showing always ends up being VAM 3, if I recall.

MarkyB wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 24, 2023 11:59 pm

Also, I didn't realize GC did anything but sell currency via auction but now realize they have an arrangement with PCGS for certain services. Good to know.

They'll send coins to any of the grading services if desired or if they're raw. They'll also send stuff to me for attribution.

Now that you've told us, have you told Great Collections?

maessedai wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 24, 2023 2:05 am

Let me know if you got my responses as I’m not sure they are being sent.

PMs stay in the sender's outbox until the recipient reads them, so they might look like they're not going anywhere.

Nope. That introduces additional inaccuracy. Measure directly in relation to two points within the central design for consistency. If the denticles are always in a fixed position relative to the central design on the model, which is the case on Morgan dollars, they're just as useful, perhaps moreso...

RogerB wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 23, 2023 3:22 pm

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?

The 3rd edition VAM book (1991), added this information on page 114, mentioning when it was reported to him in 1979, so yes.

A die study is a way to fill my cases at shows with Morgan dollars of the same date that take forever to sell. But it helps flesh out the listings, eliminating duplicates, adding new discoveries, sometimes determining die use sequences, lots of fun stuff. Is fogie filling your cases with his die st...

Brickie wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 22, 2023 9:29 pm

Hello, here is the V89 discovery coin. Although it isn't listed on the V89 page, this coin is a later use of the V26 reverse die.

Just added the emission sequence to the VAM 89 page. It was already on the VAM 26 page.

Adding closeup of the NI crack. Per the 15B page "Radial break between NI of UNITED completes the retained cud. This is the dividing line between 1891-O VAM-15A and 1891-O VAM-15B." I know it's not strong, but it's there. Led me to 15B. The comment you site is merely a comment, not part of the spec...