coinfrequency wrote: ↑Sat May 28, 2022 10:33 pm
Thanks for the identification, very helpful !
What does make VAMs desirable ? I don't really understand this area of collecting very well, easy for me to see if a die is in a late state, but not if there is something special about it !
Oh Lord...
Being pressed for an explanation about if, how and why VAM collecting makes rational sense can be something of an embarrassing fool's errand. It's a pursuit that seems to appeal to people who like small details and interesting differences; engineers seem to be especially attracted. The fact that big coins are involved rather than small no doubt helps, given the basic male opinion that "bigger is better". And the fact there were so very many millions of brand new Morgan dollars stored away in Treasury vaults for 50 to 80 years means there were and are A LOT of them to peruse.
Dramatic features explain some of the most desirable VAMs. So do things that
really shouldn't have happened at the Mint. Others, like the 1878-P 8 tail feathers group, have a dedicated group of devotees because it is a high profile collecting focus all of its own.
There are also "lists" of various VAMs that collectors can try to assemble. The first and most popular is the Top 100 list, but there are several others. None of them mean they the rarest or most valuable VAMs, or the ones that will make you seem smarter or better looking. And they definitely won't attract women. They're just groups of VAMs that someone thought to put together, name, and put out there for others to consider and perhaps also try to find. Trying to make sense of VAMs is a constant and understandable challenge for people who don't care about them, which is the vast majority of the coin collecting world.
I know these comments don't really explain much, but at least it's a start.
By the way, since you're in the U.K. and you know ancient coins, I wonder if you would please contact me by private message? I have been looking for a very particular 1568 Scottish coin that just doesn't seem to be here in the States; perhaps you might be able to direct me to someone over there who could help?
-- Dennis
When in doubt... don't.