VAMWorld 2.0

Need help with this 1882 O/S Morgan silver dollar Vam-4 don't know if its a eds or LDS please help thanks also guess the grade

Heres one more

LDS. Might come back whizzed or damaged. Otherwise 58-61 range.

kinda curious myself about this too , maybe the "self proclaimed pro" could chime in here ... heck I got hung up on strong vs weak on a TPG holder so I am no help at all.

UncleBingo
Yes the Weak / Strong on these is very confusing and I hope someone can explain a bit about that .

But On the Coins pictured its a LDS and I would say AU58 .

@DHalladay told me on another thread it could mean either V3 Or V4 recessed /flush , and EDS vs LDS I don't know without looking at the VW pages , and now at the end of all that I would end up buying a 8 TF 1878 instead But that's just me

VAM 4 LDS. The upper diagonal remnant of the S is too complete to be an EDS:

http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compu ... 2_O_Over_S

DHalladay
Does the Weak/Strong designation have anything to do with the EDS ?
Also recessed and FLUSH terms ? Just trying yo understand these terms in corelation to the EDS and LDS . But Maybe Im just looking to far into it . And its just the term for the Non EDS VAM 3/4/5 accordingly . Just wanted to get these terms correct , aka So I know what these are refered to . Just hevent been able to put it all together on these . LOL
So It refers VAM3 is termed Flush
VAM4 is recessed
But the Weak/Strong is what ? The state of the LDS ? Please if possible expalin a bit .
So further looking a Weak is a VAM5 and the Strong is the VAM4 and Probably a VAM 3 . Yep confusing with the terms .

Many Thanks !!!
John

John:

No it doesn't.
I don't know the history details, but as best as I can tell "Weak" was simply the name someone gave to VAM 5 to describe the visual difference it has from VAMs 3 and 4... and it stuck. For all I know it could have been PCGS and it may have been inspired by the Weak vs. Strong 7/8TF terms. I wish to heck it had never started, because Weak basically became a stepchild in the marketplace – even though certified populations show VAM 5 is the scarcer of the three varieties.

I'm by no means an expert on these VAMs, so perhaps we can get some input and guidance from @vampicker or @messydesk .

iceman wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:42 pm

UncleBingo
Yes the Weak / Strong on these is very confusing and I hope someone can explain a bit about that .

But On the Coins pictured its a LDS and I would say AU58 .

Yessir right on it. It's a ICG AU58 VAM-4
Just wasn't sure if it was a LDS or EDS hoping for the EDS But Oh well Thanks for everyone's help here is a picture

Malachi35
This was some good info on learning these and what the TPG call them and what not .
But Yes it was COOL to understand and Learn .
Many Thanks to DHalladay for shedding some light on the Strong/Weak designations .
With that info it makes sense to WHY it was termed as such , LOL . But COOL I understand it now !!

Thanks Malachi35 for bring up this topic !! Good Info !!

John

As the self proclaimed O/S guru LOL- i shall try to expand simply on what Dennis
has already helped describe differences etc

Both vam 3 & 4 are called STRONG on PCGS holders, with vam 5 called WEAK on PCGS holders
Its confusing to many that dont follow O/S that much

All three vams 3,4,5 have LDS and EDS with EDS much rarer and carries substancial premium
Vam 3 0/S bold= Strong metal crossbar within O mint mark- seen easily- distinct ear scratches/
raised metal within hair void on Obv/ set on 45 degree/very noticible and super PUP when pickin
from pics on auction sites EDS shows much weaker metal crossbar in O and broken raised metal

Vam 4 O/S recessed metal crossbar in O mintmark set deep within O mintmark . Also distinct ear
scratches different than v 3 or 5 See v4 here- A great PUP= Rev right wing tip (viewers left) metal
from wingtip to reeds that can be seen in most pics

Vam 5 O/S Broken called Weak by PCGS RAISED METAL pimple on upper left side of O mint mark
Thus called weak/broken O/S Currently valued much less than v3 & 4
Distinct ear scratches in ear (see vam 5 here)

All 3 vams 3,4, 5 have LDS more common & EDS early die- much less pop and more valuable
All 3 EDS have weak broken metal within O mintmark. and vam 4 EDS is the stopper worth a huge
premium, and rarest of all O/S. The vam 4 EDS is often difficult to attrib as LDS is set deep within O
and EDS has broken metal dwn deep See v4 EDS here!!

Finding/pickin a vam 4EDS makes for a good day, as a few AU details have been surfacing
A great e bayer has a Anacs au55 Pl on bay - Never see a PL v 4 EDS - so very rare, especially
in regular holder, not details/cleaned