- MM Pos V14A 1881_S_PCIMS62_BHJ_S333 (2a).jpg (159.79 KiB) Viewed 1357 times
VAM-14A Would be “Set Right” Description from the page: Reverse C3g - S/S Far Left with some raised dots above D in DOLLAR up to wreath from rusted die.
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The picture below of VAM-34 MM shows it is not the same as VAM-14, 14A & 15.
- MM Pos V34 1881-S_VAM_34_Photo_2 (3a).jpg (123.57 KiB) Viewed 1357 times
VAM-34 Would be ‘Set Slightly Right and Slightly High’ Not the same spike marks in the S or location as VAM-14, 14A and 15. Description from the page in “Comments:1. This reverse shared with VAM-14 , VAM-14A, VAM-15, and VAM-34.”
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I also had issues with the descriptions on several pages with some having an inaccurate “exact reverse shared” statement. I will create additional posts to discuss the issue so that the pages could be updated if we agree
• VAMs 33 and 46 appear to be close but VAM-38 is different (upper inside of serif differs and polishing lines in S don’t match. MM position is the same for all three so as long as not marked exact same reverse this works
• VAM-5 states also VAM-37 which it does not match. VAM-6 & VAM-10 need to be added to the VAM-5 page also.
• VAM-37 states “This exact reverse shared with VAM-5.” Which it is not the case.
• VAM-57 is a “Reverse C3p- Medium mint mark centered and tilted slightly left” the page also states “This reverse shared with VAM-37, VAM-42, VAM-44, VAM-51, VAM-57, and VAM-67” Looking at those that have MM pics the statement needs to be modified to ‘reverse type’. VAM-67 is an example that has smoother more full arc top inside right, and is not the same as VAM-37.
• VAM-28, VAM-40 description “Reverse C3m - IV S mint mark set high…”. Pictures of VAM-28 on page 40 are centered and not high.
Below is a description of a method to more consistently draw the lines needed. I hope to get feedback with agreement and constructive criticism so that a new sort page can be created.
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Best results were obtained from close ups where both the full D and O were visible along with the lower edges of the wreath ribbon. As the D and O get cut off the quality of the lines drawn from them can suffer.
Find a picture that has a close up of the MM area if possible. Larger pictures can be cropped down but might show some distortion.
Open the pic in a program like Paint. Crop the pic so that the left and right tips of the wreath ribbon are just visible and about half the knot shows. Crop up from the bottom so most denticles are out of the picture but a full D and O are visible. Save a copy.
Open the copy in a program like Paint. Resize the copy to about 820 units across the top (or about ¾ across the screen depending on resolution setting). The resize percentage will vary considerably from 150 to 500 x depending on how close the original picture is of the MM area. Use undo each time you don’t like the outcome and enter your next estimated percent multiplier.
Select the straight line from ‘Shapes’. Select the thinnest line from the drop-down ‘Size’ list. Next select the best color for the lines. I used red most of the time but had one reddish MM area that black lines were easier to see in the picture.
First draw a horizontal line from the bottom edge of one wreath ribbon to the other. Sometimes there is a ghost edge (surface doubling or a scraping mark from the minting process) under the ribbons that is usually ignored. The line should be drawn past each low spot and each end adjusted separately so it just touches the bottom of the wreath. Next draw another horizontal line from the highest point of the D to the highest point of the O. These two lines are a little off from being parallel. Drop down to the inside right edge of the D and draw a line up to the wreath. Adjust so it follows the line of the D. This line will normally touch the wreath near or just to the left of the low point. Next go to the inside left edge of the O and draw a line up to the wreath. This one has more of a slant and is sometimes harder to judge if its running true. It will normally intersect the wreath where it is going up. Draw a line from the center of the midpoint of the D to the wreath making sure it is parallel to the first line. Repeat for the O.
Save as a .jpg with a new name so it can be picked up quicker in a list. I used MM Pos VAM-xx to save mine.
Determine the MM position based on the lines around it. Is it centered and upright, or set left or right or ‘centered, slightly high, tilted right’ as shown in the example below that also has a ghost edge.
- MM Pos shiny A079 - 20220304_152658 (2).jpg (248.05 KiB) Viewed 1357 times
Centered slightly high tilted right. (Strike doubling under wreath and letters.)
Reverse summary of MM locations, pictures used were from VAMWorld 2.0 site. Most were from pictures that were good to draw lines on, but a few were from Full Coin Pictures and others from partial pictures that are not necessarily as exact:
Centered 8
Centered High 20 (1 About high, 1 Very High, 4 Tilted Left, 2 Tilted Right)
Centered Low 5
Centered Tilted Right 4
Centered Tilted Left 1
Set Slightly Right 9 (2 About High, 2 High, 1 Slightly Low, 1 Low, 2 Tilted Right)
Set Right 12 (8 High, 2 Low, 5 Tilted Right, 2 Tilted Left)
Set Far Right 4 (1 High, 3 Low)
Set Slightly Left 1 Low
Set Left 5 (2 Slightly High, 1 High, 1 Low, 2 Tilted Right)
