SSDC Top Pops

[chgolaw1]

Hi everyone. I have been away from here for such a long time and final renewed my SSDC membership. It's no secret that I and several others were in the original Dark Siders Club aka Peace Dollars. Question I noticed that there isn't any value guide for Peace dollars reason being? Also I was wondering what constitutes a vam to become a Top Pop? Is it the grade or the die state? Example being say the 1923 vam 1C Tail on the O or the 1922 vam 2a Earring? As I have seen for instance the Earring in its EDS to ULDS AND THE TOP POP IS judged by the grade. IMHO I think it would be both. Any comments?

[DHalladay]

Top Pop for SSDC is defined as the highest graded example (plus ties) for each VAM that is registered with SSDC. Higher grade examples may exist elsewhere, but a coin has to be registered at SSDC in order to be an SSDC Top Pop.

As VAM collectors, we know the EDS/ULDS question is a valid one, but the answer comes down to, "Do both have 'slots' in at least one SSDC Registry Set?" If they do, then each one can/will have a Top Pop (if any coins are registered with SSDC).

But if there's only one slot, then whatever the highest graded coin is gets to be Top Pop.

And if there is only one slot, then that's an opportunity to lobby for a new VAM designation to be created.

[chgolaw1]

Thanks Dennis. I really hope that they do get a value guide going soon for all of us Dark siders. I hate being a red haired stepchild. lol

[alefzero]

Hoping someone will do the guide authoritatively soon. Ash knows Morgans and has worked that. If it does not get together soon enough, I will tap a couple people to help me get it going. The infrastructure for it is all there.

[vampicker]

For some of the state dependent stuff like the Ear Ring, Ponytail or Tail O a degree of honor is required for claims about whether they qualify for the slot. A hint of disreputable entries in a set will draw a strongly negative reaction from the guy that does the judging at awards time.

[DarksideVAM]

An EDS is disreputable?

[vampicker]

No but representing it as being on par with the later state that the listing is meant for certainly is. Consider something like a PonyTail EDS that just has a couple of light cracks behind the bun. Putting something like that in the slot is problematic at best

[DarksideVAM]

Thank you. Understood. In my defense I had two 1H coins in inventory; one a much later die state than the other. The EDS was purchased from Dr. Close for what it was, cracked out, and submitted to PCGS for grading and attribution. The 'best set' option in the registry of course selected the highest grade example for any sets in which it was included. There was no intent to deceive or put forth disreputable specimens in any set . And I can assure you it will not happen again.

[vampicker]

Thanks. The registry is one element and honest discrepancies really are part of the game. The larger part of this issue is when money changes hands. Most of us will do the right thing as standard practice. However if there's a dollar to be made, there's always going to be that handful that operates in the 'shady' side of town

[JohnGoldsmith]

Thanks. The registry is one element and honest discrepancies really are part of the game. The larger part of this issue is when money changes hands. Most of us will do the right thing as standard practice. However if there's a dollar to be made, there's always going to be that handful that operates in the 'shady' side of town

(However if there's a dollar to be made, there's always going to be that handful that operates in the 'shady' side of town)

I can attest to that.

[DarksideVAM]

The two top 1H coins at PCGS are both EDS. There's the 65 from Dr. Close and another in 65+ that I watched sell on Great Collections a good while back with no attribution cited on the holder. It sold for more than I was willing to pay. The 65+ has since been attributed and added to a PCGS registry set.

That coin from GC was definitely struck by the dies that later completely broke and struck the monstrosity onto the LDS coins. If the GC buyer managed to sell it for a profit, good on them I reckon. I think anyone spending over two grand on a coin knows what they want.

[chgolaw1]

Thank you Dennis and John and all the others for your honest input. I may be wrong, but my belief in any registries has always been to try and achieve "The Best of the Best!"
I am sorry if I offended anyone.

[vampicker]

No offense here Dom. You raised an important point. And as noted earlier, the collecting effort require to get anywhere near the top weeds most of the troublesome stuff out

[chgolaw1]

Thanks John. Looks like you are going to owe up to your mantra. "Often the crusher of hopes and dreams!" lol

[crabscrape]

For Real????