My own 78-S head scratcher I need help with (please)

[keilg1]

This post has pictures. Sure looks like a VAM 112 to me. Nice find.
http://www.vamworld.com/forum/viewtopic ... 112#p42947

Tim, thanks. And thanks to all others (yes, @UNCLE BINGO, you too!).

I think the additional pictures might help in some ways to show I don't have a straight 112, despite the confirmation of the wing scratch as well as the wickedly cool die chips on the eagle! Thanks for that link as I'd failed to see or find it.

Why am I fairly sure the obverse I'm seeing is a 110? As shown before the polish lines in the ear are identical, but I also see a clear hair D with the chip(s) off to the right:

78S1765GRed hair D.jpg (153.99 KiB) Viewed 1151 times

The 112 page doesn't have a picture of the ear so I can't rule that out, but it has a doubled wheat leaf (not shown but I can get a picture of it if needs be) and it has polish lines under the right cotton boll, which are both lacking on my coin regardless of how I tip the coin and adjust the light source:

78S1765GRed right cotton boll base.jpg (145.41 KiB) Viewed 1151 times

I didn't see any addtiional parallel lines at the back of the eye (not shown) and the coin lacks the 'couple of lines in the T of LIBERTY' shown on the 112 page (shown in an earlier picture of mine).

I see that both the 110 and the 112 have a crack that runs along the back of Liberty's cap, something seen on my coin, so this doesn't help differentiate the two.

I'm, thus, fairly sure this is a 112 reverse, but I'm unconvinced it's not a 110 obverse. Hoping we can get additional pictures from 110 and 112 owners.

Love to learn if all 112 reverses have the die chips. The first reverse FCP on the web page doesn't appear to show them...

Thanks again for helping - I've doubled your salary from this point forward.

[vamnuke]

Maybe a new pairing; double polish lines stand out on my P64 88, which shares obv with 112. Heck, we’re at 116, there’s room for more…

[keilg1]

Maybe a new pairing; double polish lines stand out on my P64 88, which shares obv with 112. Heck, we’re at 116, there’s room for more…

Thanks. Any other subtle PUPs that you might suggest I look for - obv or rev to verify or rule out?

[lewisr2]

photo from V-88.
die chip at end of lower cap that is on both 88 and 112

[keilg1]

Again, thanks, @lewisr2, @vamnuke, @tbconcrete, @UNCLE BINGO and others.

Prompted to look more at the 88/112 link and additional pictures, I'm even more convinced this is a 110 obverse. Hope the addtitional pictures help you help me decide.

First, from the 110 page I see the matching forehead marker and doubled UN:

78S1765GRed forehead marker.jpg (176.54 KiB) Viewed 1130 times

78S1765GRed 2x U(NUM).jpg (189.19 KiB) Viewed 1130 times

78S1765GRed 2x (U)N(UM).jpg (170.55 KiB) Viewed 1130 times

Next, missing from the 88/112 descriptions (in this post and on the individual pages), I don't see any fine scratches at the back of the eye:

78S1765GRed eye details.jpg (154.3 KiB) Viewed 1130 times

Nor do I see the small gouge in the hair curve (but do see a different small die scratch or two running across the area, not within the trough):

78S1765GRed no small gouge but different scratch in hair.jpg (149.29 KiB) Viewed 1130 times

Ran out of ability to post the final picture so I'll add it in a second, but it'll show I don't see the same die chip at the end of lower cap as you kindly showed, @lewisr2.

[keilg1]

Final picture:

78S1765GRed hair ribbon area.jpg (157.56 KiB) Viewed 1130 times

[vamnuke]

Might be a new pairing…

[keilg1]

Hate to keep beating this but I've also noticed mention of the doubling of the 'top of upper right cotton leaf' on the 110 page. Unsure if I do see it but it did lead me to look at the general area and this is what I saw. Don't know if these are found on the 88/112 obverse.

Apparent 'X' scratch in the leaf:

78S1765GRed cotton leaves.jpg (180.96 KiB) Viewed 1120 times

Scratch between the cotton bolls:

78S1765GRed cotton bolls.jpg (154.56 KiB) Viewed 1120 times

[keilg1]

@vampicker or @messydesk, do either of you have any guidance here? Happy to assign it a known variety if it is - happy to send it in, too, as I have others in the hopper.

Thanks.

[vampicker]

This looks like one that needs a trip to me or JB

[messydesk]

This looks like one that needs a trip to me or JB

Agree

[keilg1]

Looks like I/we might need a little more investigations into this coin. Latest from ANACS states "Obverse markers match VAM 112. The VAM 110 obverse may be the same die. Would need an example of the variety to confirm and revise listings if correct. Added a note to the VAM 112 page."

@fogie I believe I successfully sent you an email asking for your help, but @tbconcrete it looks like I had an out-of-date email for you as it bounced back...

Is there any way you two, or anyone else with confirmed 110 or 112 coins, can help JR (or JB) see my coin alongside others to help clarify this?

Thanks in advance,

Gary

[keilg1]

Update.

Coin came back graded 62 (nice to see) but with a note from @vampicker stating:

Obverse markers match VAM 112. The VAM 110 obverse may be the same die pair. Woul dneed an example of the variety to confirm and revise listings if correct. Added a note to the VAM 112 page.

Thus, a bit of clarity but not full resolution of the issue.

Can I please ask anyone with a confirmed VAM 110 and VAM 112 to please submit them with mine to @messydesk so he can compare the lot side-by-side?

Please DM or email me (gjkeil2@gmail.com) if you'd be willing to help.

Working on updating other coins from the batch I sent to ANACS. Many nice confirmations, some dreams shattered because of past cleaning and/or scratches... but super happy with the group in total. Thanks to @vampicker and the group in Colorado - stellar service!

[lewisr2]

The VAm-110 is one of the 78-s vAms I do not have.

[keilg1]

The VAm-110 is one of the 78-s vAms I do not have.

Thanks, @lewisr2. Not all of us can have extensive collections like @fogie,@tc94545 or @Mhomei, but it seems your personal collection is quite extensive! Seeing your 112 might help, though.

Brent, would it be easy to pull your 110 DC out for a side-by-side look? Doug (@itsallgood1), your 112 would be incredibly helpful, too, if another couldn't be seen. Peter (@morgan-nut), it looks like you have both, too?

Thanks in advance and wishing you all well,

Gary

[vampicker]

It's already been confirmed that they share the same obverse. The listings have been revised.

[vamnuke]

…but V88 listing still needs updating as it shares same obv too.

[keilg1]

Thanks. My confusion (still) because I'm not seeing all the PUPs (lacking line(s) in the T of LIBERTY, the lines behind the eye, the lines to the right or the right cotton boll and the leaf, the extra lines descirbed in this post (crossed 'x' lines in right cotton leaf above the Y of LIBERTY, etc.) - but some matching (lines in ear, single line between the cotton bolls, etc.). Despite these differences I guess, in total, this is a 88/110/112 obverse with the 112 reverse making it a 112.

Sorry for my confusion.

[tbconcrete]

It's already been confirmed that they share the same obverse. The listings have been revised.

VP is correct. I have my coin buried deep in the back 40 in a mason jar. But im positive that the die scratch on the forehead is a 100% die marker for the V110 , for the V112 Your die chips on the reverse is a 100% spot on for the V112. A search of 78S VAM 110 or 112 would give you some good reference pictures isfthe posts are still out there.

[keilg1]

Thanks, Tim. I think this is a case where TCITC (the coin is the coin) - akin to TDITD with the die - in that it has a few extra minor things and missing a few minor things as each coin would be expected to. The major things match and that's what counts, eh?!

Thanks to all the others, too, for my edification.