I and R numbers

[blaircountycoin]

Don't boo the new guy! I have noticed that the I and R numbers are gone from the VAM pages. Why is that? Thanks for the help. I am a big VAM collector.

[lioncutter]

Probably removed because some VAMs I & R factors are not accurate and has been only a guess when Mr. VanAllen determined it when he gave it a new VAM number.
Here is a thread you should read to get the jist of it all.

http://www.vamworld.com/forum/viewtopic ... tor#p10858

Welcome to VAMworld

[DHalladay]

And here's another thread on this topic from last year:

http://www.vamworld.com/forum/viewtopic ... ers#p57735

[vampicker]

I remain glad to be rid of them and still feel my vote to kill these off was the right choice.
The original intent of Van Allen and Mallis with these was helpful, but over the past twenty years or so, there have been individuals that had used the I/R numbers to grossly inflate prices targeting newer collectors. There's a solid argument to be made that these ratings were doing more harm than good in the recent past.

Do you really need to be told something is interesting to find it interesting?

What is rarity? The answer is often far more fluid than a 'best guess number' or even a reported certified population indicates.

[fogie]

What vampicker said.

[morganman]

IMHO= Whether a newbie or seasoned member like myself, not having some type of
guidance within the vam description, as to Rarity or ??? is kinda confusing, as one
doesnt know if rare etc or not. Maybe the word rarity is the wrong word to be used?
We need something to differenciate between high dollsr-mid value and reg lower values,
withot havng to go to value guide. Some simple one liner or less in each vams description

Sure would help most members i think---- A CONSIDERATION ANYWAY

[blaircountycoin]

Thanks for all the help, although I see the merit as to at least somehow acknowledge the VAMS that are a bit more elusive than others. If not then it would seem that all VAMS are created equal and all worth the same except for better dates and kinda downplays the importance of them.

[messydesk]

When trying to express how difficult it is to find a scarce or rare VAM, it's best to express that against the date and mint as a whole. 1878 8TF have been studied for so long that the relative rarity of each variety compared to that of a common one is very well known. That series also has enough following where there is a fairly strong correlation between the relative rarity and pricing. The mistakes have also been flushed out of that series (VAM 11, 13). Contrast that to 1921, where there are hundreds of die pairs cataloged, miscataloged, and yet to be cataloged, a very small (but dedicated) following, and no real feeling of relative rarity outside a couple high profile varieties. Asserting that there is a salience to a rarity number for this series is foolish, yet that is exactly what sellers try doing when they show off a rarity number in hopes that they land a buyer because of it. Most dates and mints fall somewhere in between, but very few approach the maturity of 78 8TF, leaving most closer to the 1921 extreme. For these, what would probably be most meaningful is some introductory text about the date, spelling out which varieties have been observed to be particularly rare or worthy of premiums.

[blaircountycoin]

Well said.

[Bearclaw]

I’m chuckling to myself as I’ve been away for a while and wondering what happened to these myself. Thanks for asking the question.

[morganman]

Just like we needed a Vam Value Guide, and its very helpful & critical to use as a guide,
otherwise members are left in the dark/lurch
The same goes with this subject as any decent guidance is helpful to differenciate between
a gazzillion vams, which can be totally confusing

Please consider this issue and develop some type of simple solution that works for everybody