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Posted 12/30/2015 11:26 pm
I'll respond to a lot of questions at once here.
Almost. Obviously, there are coins I buy because of the VAM, but there are others I don't, like an 81-S in 67 I bought because I liked the coin. I took a quick look to see if it was worth my time trying to figure it out, and concluded I had better things to do at the time, like attributing someone else's coins.
Yes, it is VAM 30. If you enjoyed figuring this out, you've discovered much of the allure of VAM collecting. 78-S is a great place to start, because it is well-researched.
Yes, except for 1878-P.
There are over 5000 VAMs listed, and a good 4000 of them are worth no premium. Die cracks don't necessarily define a VAM, but they do allow us to confirm a die pair that was used and assigned to a specific VAM number based on other characteristics, like doubling, date position, mint mark, etc. If you look at other series where collecting by die marriage is popular (Bust halves, large cents), there is probably a similar ratio of no-premium to premium coins. With a catalog an order of magnitude smaller, it's easier to wrap one's head around and attempt to collect the whole thing. Some of these die marriages, especially with later date large cents, are most easily identified by die cracks.
If anyone is going to be at the Dallas ANA show in March, there will be an educational presentation "Demystifying VAM Collecting." It'll be a panel discussion and Q&A with me and a couple other long-time VAM guys. Should be fun.
Almost. Obviously, there are coins I buy because of the VAM, but there are others I don't, like an 81-S in 67 I bought because I liked the coin. I took a quick look to see if it was worth my time trying to figure it out, and concluded I had better things to do at the time, like attributing someone else's coins.
Quote:
looks like I found it! VAM 30 seems to be a match with a B2r reverse, doubled nostril and eyelid, quadrupled liberty, and the MM seems to be correct just by eyeing it.
looks like I found it! VAM 30 seems to be a match with a B2r reverse, doubled nostril and eyelid, quadrupled liberty, and the MM seems to be correct just by eyeing it.
Yes, it is VAM 30. If you enjoyed figuring this out, you've discovered much of the allure of VAM collecting. 78-S is a great place to start, because it is well-researched.
Quote:
... is VAM 1 always just the normal die, but sometimes it doesn't exist because all dies have abnormalities?
... is VAM 1 always just the normal die, but sometimes it doesn't exist because all dies have abnormalities?
Yes, except for 1878-P.
Quote:
Can someone help me out on vamming, I looked up the definition and understand it a lil, but I don't understand how coins with cracks and etc. Would command a higher price.
Can someone help me out on vamming, I looked up the definition and understand it a lil, but I don't understand how coins with cracks and etc. Would command a higher price.
There are over 5000 VAMs listed, and a good 4000 of them are worth no premium. Die cracks don't necessarily define a VAM, but they do allow us to confirm a die pair that was used and assigned to a specific VAM number based on other characteristics, like doubling, date position, mint mark, etc. If you look at other series where collecting by die marriage is popular (Bust halves, large cents), there is probably a similar ratio of no-premium to premium coins. With a catalog an order of magnitude smaller, it's easier to wrap one's head around and attempt to collect the whole thing. Some of these die marriages, especially with later date large cents, are most easily identified by die cracks.
If anyone is going to be at the Dallas ANA show in March, there will be an educational presentation "Demystifying VAM Collecting." It'll be a panel discussion and Q&A with me and a couple other long-time VAM guys. Should be fun.
