1888-P VAM7 stage help, please?

[keilg1]

I reckon it is in-between a stage 2 and a stage 3 (7A and 7B, respectfully), but can't tell.

Original striations up to 'ust' from the left wing still around, albeit faint and hard to see unless the light is 'just right' so it isn't stage 1:

1888-P V7 GRed rev ust wing gap.JPG (90.67 KiB) Viewed 2659 times

On to stage 2 as a possibility. Area around IGW doesn't match the stage 2 picture (mine seems more advanced), with no real marks along the wing gap (see the above picture) nor below the right wing bottom and the olive leaves, indicating this might be beyond stage 2:

1888-P V7 GRed rev upper left.JPG (197.03 KiB) Viewed 2659 times

1888-P V7 GRed lower wing and tf.JPG (90.35 KiB) Viewed 2659 times

But there's no gouges in the lower tail feather, so not a stage 3?

Not a stage 4 because I don't see the advanced gouges around the arrow heads, just the 'standard' one:

1888-P V7 GRed arrow heads and olive branch.JPG (74.19 KiB) Viewed 2659 times

I feel like this is a 'tweener' (aged 10, 11 or 12 for those of you with young daughters... this is an interesting age to say the least).

Any help/thoughts?

Thanks,

Gary

[keilg1]

Thoughts from any 1888 gurus with any experience on this lovely variety?

[Unc90o]

Stage 1 (VAM-7) - has a nice a clear gouges above left wing up to UST.
Stage 1.5 - I think this is your coin.
Stage 2 (VAM-7A) - is what posted on VAM-7A page with the gouge lines added as describe on the page.

Now the confusing part:
Stage 3 (VAM-7B) - description on reverse:
"Lines above eagle’s left wing have disappeared except for lower one. Die gouge lines added as short vertical lines at bottom of eagle’s right wing and series of lines between eagle’s left wing and body up to neck."
The above description really suppose to be for VAM-7A.
Gouges on upper and lower tail feather is correct for VAM-7B photos (they don't exist yet for VAM-7A).

[DurhamJnKY]

For what it's worth, I have a 7A attributed by JB. It still has the lines above the left wing and below the right AND gouges in the upper and lower tailfeathers.

Jonnie

[Unc90o]

Jonnie - in my opinion, what you have is VAM-7B. VAM-7 series really needs an overhaul. I have a 7A and 7D if anyone wants to borrow and get the entire series back to Leroy for his review.

[keilg1]

I'd offer to send my 1.5 or whatever it is to LVA to help.

Thanks for the input. I thought I was simply missing something. Which I usually am. All the time, damnitall...

If others are willing to do the same, say the word and we'll keep Leroy busy for a short while.

Appreciatively,

Gary

[keilg1]

Bumping this to the top so my 'tweener' doesn't get relegated to the depths of the discussion board.

Any thoughts on what stage mine might be?

Any interest in revisiting the set by sending a lot off to Leroy to decode?

Happy to help if I can,

Gary

[DurhamJnKY]

I would say it's a 7A.

I've been told on more than 1 occasion to just use LVA's descriptions when determining a VAM. I can see the three gouges at the arrowheads,

I am also willing to loan mine,

[keilg1]

I believe the end result of the original coin in question was a 7A.

Have a different coin that I'd appreciate input on.

What is the consensus? 7B on this one?

Thanks in advance!

Gary

1888PV7stageunknGRedobv.jpg (264.21 KiB) Viewed 1354 times

1888PV7stageunknGRedrev.jpg (258.14 KiB) Viewed 1354 times

1888PV7stageunknGRedrevdetail#1.jpg (295.34 KiB) Viewed 1354 times

1888PV7stageunknGRedrevdetail#2.jpg (170.92 KiB) Viewed 1354 times

[DurhamJnKY]

IMO, I'd call it a 7C since all of the lines above the left wing are gone.

Jonnie

[keilg1]

IMO, I'd call it a 7C since all of the lines above the left wing are gone.

Jonnie

Thanks. That's what I was thinking. Now if I can find a pretty 7, 7B and 7D... garsh, I'm not even half way to being 'complete.'