1904-O VAM-1B1 or VAM-5A?

[keilg1]

The elusive VAM-5/5A have been mostly killed - this, combined with the clear match of the reverse with what is described and shown in the VAM-1B pages, I believed this was a 1B1 because everything matched up: although the OL pitting and clash marks matched on the reverse, there is no lovely curve on the foot of the 1 so definitely not a clean 4A, leaving the 1B series - only the 1B1 looking like a perfect match so case closed.

Looked at the obverse recently as I was cataloging my coins and noticed a distinct doubling of the 1. Noticed a bit on the 4, too, and what I'd not term a doubling of the profile but I could see how imaginative eyes could see it that way.

VAM-5 reads "1 doubled at bottom of top crossbar. Closed 9. Top right of 4's lower crossbar doubled. Profile slightly doubled." so thought I'd throw this here - especially to @LateDateMorganGuy for expert guidance.

First the reverse pictures showing the OL pitting series and die file lines:

A112 - 20211213_200037.jpg (150.54 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

A113 - 20211213_200051.jpg (133.17 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

A114 - 20211213_200107.jpg (132.74 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

A123 - 20211213_200349.jpg (125.42 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

and

A118 - 20211213_200215.jpg (125.18 KiB) Viewed 1870 times

Next series will be the obverse.

Thanks for your help!

Gary

[keilg1]

Now the obverse:

Doubling of the top of the 1 and almost as described:

A074 - 20211213_201800.jpg (132.11 KiB) Viewed 1869 times

No doubling along the bottom of the cross bar, but the top outside part of the cross bar:

A074 - 20211214_153538.jpg (91.29 KiB) Viewed 1869 times

Slightly different angle:

A076 - 20211213_202059.jpg (100.98 KiB) Viewed 1869 times

And the supposed doubling of the profile (which I don't believe):

A077 - 20211214_160621.jpg (91.75 KiB) Viewed 1869 times

[LateDateMorganGuy]

Kurt is also proficient at the 1904-O series.

A die study concluded you cannot have both the VAM-5/5A and VAM-1B1, 1B2, & 1B3 listings. All the 1B series coins have the same dies paired, just different die states/stages. They are all definitively tied together.

So it appears that the VAM-5/5A have become red-haired step-children. There is no way to get them de-listed as the DCs are long gone.

Hope that helps.

[keilg1]

Kurt is also proficient at the 1904-O series.

A die study concluded you cannot have both the VAM-5/5A and VAM-1B1, 1B2, & 1B3 listings. All the 1B series coins have the same dies paired, just different die states/stages. They are all definitively tied together.

So it appears that the VAM-5/5A have become red-haired step-children. There is no way to get them de-listed as the DCs are long gone.

Hope that helps.

It does! Thanks.

@Kurt28, my friend, I apologize for leaving you off this post. I definitely should have flagged this question to you!

Can ya help me, brother?

[Kurt28]

I've been on the road, not ignoring you. Give me a bit of time.

[keilg1]

I've been on the road, not ignoring you. Give me a bit of time.

Kurt,

Like fine wine and an aged steak, you're well worth any wait.

[Kurt28]

Don't pay the ransom, I've escaped!

My delay in response was in part because I wanted to get this right.
I've made a couple of rookie mistakes in attribution lately because of a cloudy brain.

I have three VAM 1B1 examples in MS condition. And upon close examination I would not conclude that any of them had a doubled profile. Neither do I see a doubling of the top right portion of the lower cross bar on the 4.

I don't want to exclude the possibility that Leroy or George could not have made a mistake (or any other VAMmer for that matter) as that is a standard that comes with a heavy mantle.
But to find two discrepancies between the VAM-5/5A description and the VAM-1B1 is so unlikely that I prefer to believe that the VAM-5/5A is out there somewhere.
And I'll be keeping my eyes open.