VAM Help 1900 - S

[belmarbeach]

Being identifying VAMs for my collection and couldn't find the VAM for my 1900 - S. It appears to be a very near date which is not common for the date. It has a die break on obv between E and P. S looks normal on reverse and reverse doesn't appear to have to have any die breaks. Both sides appear from rusted dies.

[PacificWR]

One of the first things to do to help narrow the VAM list down is to determine what type of reverse you have (C3, C3/C4 or C4). You can use the attribution guides to do this. Once you determine what type of reverse you have it should be pretty straight forward. That attribution guides are a very good tool to use.

[messydesk]

Glad you started with the date and mint mark. Reverse hub type is also important for the later dates. Take a look at VAM 18. It has the same very near date, mint mark position, and C4 reverse. Also, the die crack you mentioned is present. VAM 18A shows what this crack eventually grows to be.

[belmarbeach]

Messydesk,

Thanks, that's it. Not sure how I missed it, spells it out perfectly.

[belmarbeach]

Upon further examination, appears my Vam 18 is half way to 18A. Doesn't have the obverse extended "E" from the double break to the star and only 2 of the 3 stars have the break. The break at the lower hair is also just starting. On the reverse, only the "E" and second "L" have the die chips.