VAM Rarity Question

Gene, a good while back, I asked the pointed question of the owner/author what is the rationale in including a 'unique' coin in the list? Oz correctly ilustrates the reply that was given (maybe not verbatim, but very close):




I cannot judge the merit of that response, as I am not omniscient. I do feel however, that for someone who supposedly knows vams inside and out, expressing the notion that a unique VAM that all vammers are painfully aware of, avidly searching for in every '21 that they see, (and is quite conspicuous from across the room), all seems like something that transcends incentive.

I feel that there may well be very basic, primeval urges working here.
Consider this: we are all human, and as such, derive certain basic characteristics through genetic heredity. Much of this is gender oriented, some of it is not.
Women know what guys like. Gals know how guys would like them to dress and look like, but the subliminal urge to instill jealousy in ones peers overrides the desire to be desired. If women dressed for the guys, they would be labeled with unkind names. Women dress for other women. Competition to be viewed as desirable by ones peers becomes more important than actually being desired by the guys. If a woman feels she is not competitive, inner pride will be sustained through the portrayal of her success in other directions; bagging a husband that is a good provider and father for instance.

Guys are not immune to this competitive onslaught of hormones. My car is faster, shinier, and cost more than yours. My truck is bigger, more powerful, and capable. I make X amount of $$$, I am the best at what I do. I have great prowess with the ladies. I did this or that, and got away with it. With guys it seems a bit more less complicated. It all boils down to mine is bigger than yours.

We all have the urge to protect our ego and compensate for our insecurities, it is inherent in each of us. We project the need to do this in many different ways, but some of our paths are more transparent than others. I view pride as a positive thing, but only within moderate degrees. Attempts to instill jealousy thorough our lust for pride is almost always counterproductive.

As Oz said, including a unique coin on any list is counterproductive, at best. I could make a list consisting of only unique coins, and call it the Top Five, but who would be interested in attempting such a thing? I could say something like 'it provides incentive for folks to find another of each of them'.

Seriously, in my opinion, it is irresponsible for a list maker to include coins that are unattainable. Coins that have a known population of less than 20 have no business being on any collector's list unless the list is intended for a very select breed of people. A measure of realism would go a long way toward stifling the cries of 'foul' from skeptics like me, and that is how I feel about it.

I too have to wonder why each of these lists contain contains many coins I will never find...But perhaps that's just the point, there can be no one at the top if everyone's at the top....or is it an elite game where only the elite can compete?
or is it a way to flush out more of the Mystery coin and drop the value to price of peanuts? some how I doubt that one..Did only one get past the eyes of the operators? That I highly doubt, they seriously observed every coin flying out of the press...in either case. R7 coins on the list earn the money and others DO NOT.....in an "even playing field" they should be relatively even

Zee, I would agree on the one hand. The 1921 Cud is just a dream too me, on the other hand all 7 of the thorn-heads I feel that many more are out there. And that exposure of this type in the non vamming forum could well help find others

whether It's 21 or 78, make no never mind to me, I simply mean that there should be an even playing field which there never will be, and agree with your idea of the lists and what is and how something gets on them or doesn't. The lists are there to entice people into vamming and promote its collection or bandwagon...The number of VAM's continue to grow every week, Fair has nothing to do with it...

Sounds like you are in 'the know' with your cherry picking Russ, and I would not feel the least bit guilty about making the big score. The burden of knowing what they are selling falls squarely on the seller, unless you pressured the seller into selling something that he/she really didn't want to sell. The informed seller often relies on uninformed buyers to make a profit. Turnabout is fair play.

It is not only the collector that is on the hunt, a good many dealers exhibit a predatory demeanor as well.

The problem is I would need to find one better before I would sell it. And that is unlikely. As far as knowing the single clash of this type being the money coin. I found out right here less than 2 months ago. I sold the one I found then 2 days ago to a member here.

I picked the 2 PCGS clashed (E's), I have the one that I think is an EDS up on the Bay. I do not really what to sell it, but about a week and a half ago. I ran into an old estate of Morgans. And my wife will have kittens if I go out and drop 27,000 on them so. I have been selling some of my coins to make up for the difference.

On that one if it is not close too what I have it listed for I plan too keep it, has I do not think it would be easy or cheep to replace it.

CCF has been a great thing for me, great info and good people.

Speaking of fun and learning, I feel the need for some moderation. Where is the '21 man at? He has been rather scarce lately, or maybe just waiting in ambush for me to make a wrong move? (He has been given plenty of chances lately, I feel as though I have made myself rather like one of those little ducks in a shooting arcade).