New 88-S variety

[vampicker]

I'll wait to make a new page when the new site is up, but I just got back the new discovery piece for what is now the 1888-S VAM 5A. The base die pair has a minor slanted date, but the late die stage just listed has a break from the top of the cap to the 2nd U of PLURIBUS that got heavy die polishing in an attempt to efface the break.

[crabscrape]

John,
Do you have a pic of the New discovery?

[vampicker]

I'll post a pic or two when I get back from Baltimore. Maybe I'll do this as a future 'About VAMs' column. I picked the piece up as a 'just buy something' piece after I'd been hanging at a table for a while

[CascadeChris]

Cant wait to see how hard they scrubbed this girl!

[crabscrape]

Would like to see the scrubbing myself . I remember years back when I picked a 1889 O vam 20A and it had been scrubbed. Payed more for it then I wanted, but I learned a hard lesson from it. Finally picked one in MS a few years back and they don't even have a crack to efface.

[fogie]

I have 2 of these 1888-S VAM5 and neither one shows any sign of a crack above the cap - 1 however shows a good die scrubbing.

RBF1888-SV5-10.jpg (188.85 KiB) Viewed 2569 times

[PacificWR]

For sure. Nice Discovery.

[vampicker]

Here's a picture of the break and polish.

88s v5a break and polish jpr.jpg (56.34 KiB) Viewed 2519 times

[twohawks]

I have been looking for this clashed die pair for a few years now that isn't polished down. After that clash they cleaned up the die pair and you can see straight line polishing lines above the cap and under the tail feathers.

[vampicker]

Thinks that's a different marriage Russ. I don't see any trace of clashing on this thing

[vampicker]

BTW, fogie's example is very similar. I'm betting the crack was there, partially polished away, then came back after a few strikes. There's a void in the cap just under the fold that takes out part of the leaf above the right boll

[bob259]

fogie: I have 2 of these 1888-S VAM5 and neither one shows any sign of a crack above the cap - 1 however shows a good die scrubbing.

Look carefully at your picture. I believe I can see the crack now that we have one showing exactly where it is.

[CascadeChris]

JR. Look closely. I see the crack on Fogies. Just not as strong and obscured by scuffing. I'm thinking his looks like a later stage than yours with more subsequent polishing to remove crack maybe?

[CascadeChris]

Oops. Didnt see Bob's reply without the creepy baby. Bob gets the credit lol. And Bob, you HAVE to set that baby as your avatar bro!

[bob259]

Bob, you HAVE to set that baby as your avatar bro!

Done!

[vampicker]

Here's a pic of the polished out area in the cap

88s v5a leaf and boll.jpg (94.2 KiB) Viewed 2445 times

[shortnock]

'Way to 'pick...you ole VAMpicker.

[andywoj00]

JR....Can you post the plate photos and the LVA letter here? VAM page needs to be tweaked a bit.
Thanks,
Andrew