1900-O VAM-15 or VAM-15A

[livingwater]

Hello,
I have collected ancient coins for over twenty years and love them. Just in the last four months I began to collect Morgans and learn about VAMs so I am a newbie to this arena. I joined this sight today. I like Morgan doubling and clash varieties. I recently bought a 1900-O with star doubling and triple clash but I'm unsure if it's VAM-15 or VAM-15A. I understand on vamworld.com the descriptions may not be complete. For VAM-15 it says nothing about clashing. For VAM-15A is does discuss clashing. On this alone I thought any clashing puts the coin as VAM-15A. But in posts on vamworld and coincommunity some say there must be letter clashing to be a VAM-15A. Okay, so there can be clashing on a VAM-15 but it becomes a VAM-15A with letter clashing? It would be nice if the descriptions on vamworld would say so. I don't care one way or the other I just want to attribute my coin correctly.

I'd like to know where in VAM books or supplements does it say there must be letter clashing to move a coin from one ID number to the next. Does this letter clashing requirement also apply to other Morgan years/varieties?

On my coin I can't see any letter clashing with 10 power glass. The triple clashing near the neck line and on the reverse is easy to see. Here's some pics, the best my camera can do. The seller pics are on the right. I can easily change the info to VAM-15. I got this on ebay. The seller provided no description for it except the year. I paid $51, okay price I think. Thanks for any help here.

[ChiefRet.]

Welcome aboard Livingwater.
If you go down the 1900-O VAM-15A page you will seed an images of a third clash. Which I think you may have.
If you turn it over and look at the letters IN (In God We Trust)do you see the same slash marks like on the V15A page?

Any ways, members with allot more experience than me will give you a definite answer.

[livingwater]

Hello ChiefRet.,
Thanks for responding! Yes I did see the lower photo for VAM-15 with clashing. I thought either the photo should be moved to VAM-15A or the description for VAM-15 should include clashing without lettering. My coin shows no gouges or markings on or near In God We Trust. I'll edit my coin photo to a VAM-15 and move on to the next Morgan hunt. Guess I'm a little anal but I'm learning. Regards.

[blh74]

I think you are close. I think it happens with almost every year/mint mark. What matters is the letter transfer. Welcome to the fun.

[messydesk]

All with two clashes show the transferred lettering, and so call them VAM 15A. I'm pretty sure the third clash wipes out the transferred letters. Applying simply the "letter transfer" rule, this would be called VAM 15. Of course, that causes confusion with what must be a rather rare unclashed version (I have never handled one, but see that there is one shown on the VAM 15 page). If I were sent the coin with three clashes, and could not see the letter transfer, I'd call it "VAM 15 LDS (3 clashes)."

The gradual transition from one VAM designation to another due to die wear is something I'm not crazy about, and this example shows why. It's more useful to catalog discrete events that can be seen on the coins, in this case, unclashed, 2 clashes, 3 clashes. I don't know if anyone has ever seen a single clash version.

In terms of relative rarity, the 2-clash stage is by far the most common of the three, probably followed by the 3-clash stage, then the unclahsed stage.

Welcome to the hobby, BTW!

[RMG1883CC]

It's letter TRANSFER that is key on this VAM. Letter showing on neck from reverse.
Here is a Single > http://www.vamworld.com/rmg_1900O_101317
Double >http://www.vamworld.com/rmg_1900O_100216
Triple >http://www.vamworld.com/rmg_1900O_020417

All are also on this webste > http://www.silverdye.us/wiki/Main/WebHome
goto RMG1883CC MEMBERS PAGE High Reso photos.

Oh, please don't change anything on pages your first day. There are guys who handle most of that. And they have the experience doing so,,,,,,,,THX

[Brabjohn]

I have seen very few of the triples in my travels. One making its way into a 15A ngc holder. Letter transfer is the key but I believe the concensus is the triple clash is 15, single and double are 15A. My experience would say the triple clash is the rarest. Followed by single, no clash, and double being the most common. Nice coin!

[RMG1883CC]

The transfer on the TRIPLE is worn away making it a VAM-15. MY Triple is a V15.
I agree, the single is tougher to find than the Double clash. I'm lucky to have 3 stages.
Good VAM,,,,,

[PacificWR]

Nice pick. Look's like VAM 15.

[livingwater]

Much thanks to all who responded. I'll enjoy learning about Morgans.