1881-S VAM-2 with parallel Die gouges in loop of bow that are not listed on the v-2 page. Sent to ANACS :D

[johnhenry9009]

I've been looking though the 81-S page and my 81-S for a few hours now but I just can't find which VAM listing this one belongs to. I've looked through the 1881-S bow guide and I did not see any with the two parallel Die gouges as seen in the 2nd photo. when I was putting the arrows on the photo below I forgot to mark what appears to be a check mark on the one (Correction: it appears to be an LDS of V-2 instead of a V-32 so I do apologize for the incorrect information. )

(^KEY for this photo: RED= Doubling, BLUE= questionable doubling)

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What appears to be two parallel Die gouges in the loop of bow.

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The Mintmark appears to be one of the up & left variety.

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S20230323_0019.jpg (113.35 KiB) Viewed 524 times

[johnhenry9009]

Here are some photos of the full coin, I do apologize for the photos if they are to grainy

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if you look closely at the loop in the bow you can see the die gouges.

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[johnhenry9009]

(V KEY for the photo: BLUE= what appears to be some dbl on the wreath.)

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Here is a photo of the cotton blossoms which seems to have some Die scratches in the space between them.

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and here is a photo of the D in the hair and the ear I do apologize for the blurriness/graininess.

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S20230324_0007.jpg (235.22 KiB) Viewed 469 times

[johnhenry9009]

BUMP

[MarkyB]

I didn't think your MM matched 32 so I went looking. I think you have a VAM 2. Pits in her hair D seem to line up. The only thing I couldn't account for was the ribbon. Give it a look.

[johnhenry9009]

Yeah, the more I look at it I would have to agree with you it does appear to be VAM-2. I believe I was suffering from tunnel vision when I wrote the topic because I was just focused on the die gouges in the bow, and thank you for correcting me . but given the die gouges in the bow I want to say it is a LDS what do you make of it?

[MarkyB]

The ribbon could be a match. I thought you might have PMD but I think I can make out what appears to be two ridges thru the listings ribbon that could be enhanced with different angle or better lighting. I would set my scope/camera at the same magnification level as the listing and try to match. Sometimes too much or too little magnification can work against you. If the lines/gouges stay relevent from any angle, you may have something special. Today I noticed the checkmark anomally on the second 1 which helps solidify the VAM 2 ID. Pretty cool.

[johnhenry9009]

Here are some photos of the bow

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S20230328_0003.jpg (224.2 KiB) Viewed 405 times

[johnhenry9009]

and here they are but rotated

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S20230328_0002.jpg (191.63 KiB) Viewed 405 times

S20230328_0003.jpg (239.15 KiB) Viewed 405 times

[MarkyB]

That certainly stands out. Notice the first "rim" as I call it, and outlined in my pic, does match but your lines are absent. I can't explain it. Maybe it's the future 2A.

[johnhenry9009]

It is promising But we will have to wait and see what our fellow VAM collectors think about it to be sure.

[johnhenry9009]

BUMP

[johnhenry9009]

Last BUMP

[Albannach]

So your coin has PL fields and very little polishing in and around the bow, indicating an early state of the die. Is it in a PL holder? Is it worthy of a revision or new listing, not from what I see, for the bow gouges, no, but I don't make those decisions.

Scratches and gouges tend to wear with age and polishing until they simply vanish (in most cases) it's really a matter of time. As I said, it does not look like this one has had much work done, based on your pics. She's minty-fresh...

Occasionally you'll find some of these scratches are actually in a HUB. I suspect that here, but will simply speculate for now, as I don't know a great deal about this date.

[johnhenry9009]

It is not in a graded holder but I have been thinking about sending to ANACS.

[Albannach]

That's a good thought and I certainly recommend that yes.

I would be surprised if they don't PL the reverse. I don't see it so much on your Obv, but the pics are sparse and too tight for me to see clearly.

[johnhenry9009]

I just sent it to ANACS so we'll have to wait and see what they think about it. I believe that it will require another example in order for it to be listed as a VAM in my opinion .