My aquisition of VAMs has slowed considerably but I make a point of trying to ascertain the VAM when buying a coin to upgrade my collection. Tonight I received a 1897 just because I liked the look of the coin. Some months ago I read something JB said about identifying VAMS strictly via a loupe so I've tried my hand at it. I'm not good. This coin looked very normal other than a few reverse cracks. A plain Jane and not many VAMS for the 97 so I think a big sigh escaped me but I pressed on.
With so few, I decided to open each listing in order. None matched my date position until a got to VAM 3. Aha...but I don't have a doubled 1. 3A has a pitted "N" but surely I would have seen that. Guess again. Introducing my new "junk in the trunk" Lady Liberty. I'm excited as I don't have many pitted VAMs and I think they're pretty cool. Since the obviously doubled 1 escaped me, I'm now resigned to a scope vs loupe. I'm just not worthy.
A Short Story - 1897
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A Short Story - 1897
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UNCLE BINGO
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- Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:41 pm
Re: A Short Story - 1897
The rusty dies are kinda cool i think , the pits look like a scab 
No offense intended , I like it !
No offense intended , I like it !" May your clashes be EDS , your breaks be LDS , and your wife not have PMS over your collecting habits! " 
Re: A Short Story - 1897
I love the 97P coins. Simple but full of coolness. The 1B scratches, the 1C break, your 3A, the 5, 6A and 8 all are fab...
Most of them are easily spotted (especially the 6A) with good eyes or a low power loupe but look wicked under a microscope. The key to me is figuring out what to look for first - i.e., studying the lists of attributed variants - so the eye and brain are pre-trained to spot what it knows is out there... and to avoid focusing on minor points that don't. Of course, we then begin hoping we see what we really want to see but that IS how the human brain works!
Keep up the hunt and remember to have fun doing it?
Most of them are easily spotted (especially the 6A) with good eyes or a low power loupe but look wicked under a microscope. The key to me is figuring out what to look for first - i.e., studying the lists of attributed variants - so the eye and brain are pre-trained to spot what it knows is out there... and to avoid focusing on minor points that don't. Of course, we then begin hoping we see what we really want to see but that IS how the human brain works!
Keep up the hunt and remember to have fun doing it?
Re: A Short Story - 1897
Initially I had the date as a doubled 9 and didn't see the 1 although it's now painfully obvious. The pitting is hard to see from straight above but angle the coin and BAM! I must learn to wobble my coin as I search.