VAMWorld 2.0

Maybe it would be a worthwhile exercise to look at other examples of this date and the year before and compare multiple mint marks to this coin. You might find they all exactly conform to the same style. There's a good book on Morgan and Peace Dollar varieties that shows all of the known mintmark styles side by side for (usually) easy identification.

vampicker wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 13, 2022 2:12 pm

Maybe it would be a worthwhile exercise to look at other examples of this date and the year before and compare multiple mint marks to this coin. You might find they all exactly conform to the same style. There's a good book on Morgan and Peace Dollar varieties that shows all of the known mintmark styles side by side for (usually) easy identification.

What would be nice is to have an intelligent, scientific discussion about this coin with someone that doesn't tell me that I don't see what I see. I too am a trained professional. 38 years in my field. In my training they drove into us "Attention to detail! Attention to detail! Attention to detail!". I am considered a top expert in my field inasmuch as other experts in my profession come to me for advice because I pay attention to details.
You said "known mintmark styles". Even if this is a known mintmark style, it tells me three things...
1. No one has investigated why the S is so misshapen.
2. No one has found a coin that shows why it is misshapen.
3. There is a common belief that things like this can't happen.

You said "known mintmark styles". Even if this is a known mintmark style, it tells me three things...
1. No one has investigated why the S is so misshapen.
2. No one has found a coin that shows why it is misshapen.
3. There is a common belief that things like this can't happen.

No one is questioning or asking about your background abilities and/or skills. However, your self-described as an expert that pays attention to details are 100% perfectly suited for this madness and addicting hobby.

Others might chimes in, but here is my take on those:
1. Back then, there's no machine to make this stuff. It was all hand made by the engraver(s).
2. Because a PMD is unique.
3. See #1.

I have bought and read these books, and got that 'aha' moment from them. I suggest anyone, especially new vammers to do the same.
- Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars - 4th edition
- From Mine to Mint by Roger W. Burdette

Just a note, some of the folks you've been conversing with have been doing THIS professionally for decades as well... and they're building on knowledge that others have accumulated for decades before them.
In your profession do you ever use Occam's Razor? If so, ask yourself this question:
Would it be more likely that the mint created punches which were otherwise useless to "fix" this MM, which they would have had to punch with ANOTHER punch that served no other useful purpose or
They created this MM punch and it just turned out the way it turned out (which is pretty consistent with all the other "S" MMs)?

The exercise I suggested may seem pointless, but it is worth doing. It makes the RPM's stick out more and helps sort some of the more deceptive forms of post mint damage from actual variety characteristics.
No one enters this field as an expert, even when they possess expertise elsewhere.

Congrats JR, I was at slapping stage page 2. Bravo...