When I see attributes on a coin that are not listed on its VAM page I tend to want to point them out to others so they don’t waste time chasing a ‘discovery’. I think a VAM’s page should be as comprehensive as we can make it and this won’t add to the length of the description. I also think that additional attributes can add to the interest in particular VAMs. As we have all heard: “The VAM is the VAM”, however, the one-and-done approach while it has it has major merits can overlook some really interesting aspects of a die set.
Could someone please add the pictures and comments to the VAM-69 Page please. My rationale follows:
Obverse: Obverse my coin and the RonH FCP from the page show die cracks across the chin that are not seen on VAM-47 die 3 indicating that VAM-69 is a later pairing. They both have “Long horizontal die scratch between hair locks in back of neck. Fourth right star broken.”
Reverse: The early-stage G in God and r in Trust below are cropped from the RonH FCP on the site. The later die state pictures are from my 1878-S VAM-69 in AU condition. The r in Trust shows further deterioration from the RonH FCP. The G in God is broken at the top when compared to the cropped version from FCP. The latter has some weakness on the left side but the top is solid. There is also a long thin die scratch that starts between the Eagle’s neck and right wing that runs up ‘under’ the beak, ‘under’ the o of God, then to the bottom of the second T in STATES. The close up of the beak shows the mark is a die scratch at the surface of the die and not a scratch on the coin. Tthe MM is set slightly high, slight tilt to right. It is not quite at the upper bar that would make it high but it is not centered up/down.
Thanks
Please add:
Comment 4: Obverse shows die cracks across the chin that are not seen on the VAM-47 die 3 obverse picture indicating that VAM-69 is a later die pairing
Comment 5: Late die stage of reverse has further deterioration of the r in Trust. The G in God is broken at the top. A die scratch starts between the Eagle’s neck and right wing that runs up ‘under’ the beak, ‘under’ the o in God, then to the bottom of the second T in STATES.
Comment 6: MM set slightly high, slight tilt right
- G From 1878-S_RonH_VAM-69_G_03082012 (2).jpg (48.55 KiB) Viewed 498 times
- 1878-S V69 broken G.jpg (197.13 KiB) Viewed 498 times
- r From 1878-S_RonH_VAM-69_r_03082012.jpg (42.06 KiB) Viewed 498 times
- M7E 1878-S LDS VAM-69 r.jpg (129.03 KiB) Viewed 498 times
More pictures next post
