Submissions To Leroy Van Allen

Yes and I believe it was a little under a month. But wait time most likely varies depending on what Leroy has waiting in the pipeline of hopeful attributions. One thing that is highly encouraged is to vet your potential "discovery" first with ample pics on VAMWORLD forum so that members can provide input. This saves Leroy from being over loaded with coins to inspect that are not new discoveries. Many potential VAMS have already been submitted by others and rejected for various reasons. No need to repeat that process even though Leroy is very cordial in all his responses. It will also save you time & money.

If you have not already done so I would encourage you to read through this prior to any mailings.
http://www.vamworld.com/Guidelines+...ie+Varieties

Should you go forth with this endeavor I wish you the best of luck. I have more than my fair sharte of rejection letters from Leroy. Bob

cdnmace: After reading your post I remembered this old email:
"Heard from Leroy Van Allen today that he is closing on the sale of his townhouse in mid-March and will be unable to look at coins and won't have access to a computer until early to mid-April due to the move to another house at a local retirement community."
There was a later post stating that he was acccepting limited submissions beginning May 2nd. You should receive your coins & a decision shortly I believe as other members of VAMWORLD are now receiving answers on vetted coins.

Just an update...

Still nothing yet.

I appreciate that feedback. It makes perfect sense. However, a sister-pair of vetted coins, and $20. My math was correct.

I have only ever read the request, from Mr. Van Allen, for return postage... nothing ever about a 'viewing fee'. Not to insinuate, even remotely, that that is incorrect. Have just never personally read or heard that myself.

I do however, find that rather hard to believe that Mr. Van Allen would simply keep an individual's coin if they did not add the appropriate amount of money though, to be honest? While I don't know Mr. Van Allen personally, I have never heard of him being 'that way'. I think he is from the old school numismatics world, as it were. Someone who did not add the correct amount of funds, I'm sure, would be contacted to remedy the situation? Wouldn't you think? :-/

One could contend that that is an insinuation that he steals from the rude (people who do not add the appropriate funds). I don't think that would ever be the case. And I've never heard of that happening. Not to say it has or hasn't.

But again, thanks for the feedback. :-)

cdnmace, Leroy has asked more than once to have all coins vetted on V W. V W is also to only web site that puts out his PO Box, that I know of. He would not take some ones coins.

I am sure he has told the former and current SSDC President as well its board about the costs and the reasoning. He is old school, but he gets a bit miffed when coins are sent in that are not vetted. He just started to view coins after his move, and everyone that had been holding off submitting coins piled up his desk in 1 week.

If 2 coins where sent with 20.00 then return shipping and viewing fees are more then he requests. I would write him and also include any tracking number you may have.

The way you had wrote how you shipped them with and the question of "let me know about return shipping costs" is why I wrote what I did.

As far as his reasoning for his viewing fee. My statement is very accurate, as to what he has told me and others. While he truly has a passion for varieties, as he has said a few people have mistaken his kindness and passion for weakness or at worst abused it. VW has over 1000 members its a math problem, if 5 % of them send in 10 coins that equals 500 coins and he has been sent 50 coins and more from a few people in the past. His 10 coin limit is to promote "study", even the most seasoned Vammer has a rate of less then 40% Discovery rate.

In know way was I implying you did something wrong, I was just letting you and everyone else that may read this post understand his rules and his reasoning.

No harm in that; VW isn't the only place you'll find folks who know a thing or two about Morgans. That said, you'll hear me suggest the coin be brought to VW every_single_time I think it's of any significance in the grand scheme of things, whether we have it precisely identified or not. Vamming needs a VAM Central, and VAMworld is that place.

UPDATE (for those who may be curious): I received back a very nice letter today from Mr. Van Allen, with accompanying tracking number.

My coins have been lost by the United States Postal Service. I am in Michigan, and they disappeared March 18th after the Cincinnati sorting facility.

I have opened a case with the USPS (assuming that's not going to do much )

But in case you were wondering... The sister pair turned out to be (85-P) VAM-9: [quote from Mr. Van Allen's letter]: "Clashed dies but no partial n at Liberty head neck or st at lower right hair vee. Some light die pitting in the eagle's lower tail feathers but not visible to the naked eye and not listable. Some light polishing lines in eagle's right wing but not visible to the naked eye, but would be useful as die markers if needed."

Cheers.