1878 Morgan Dollar VAM-79 Morgan

Well This just got finalized at NGC and it is on its way back home in a new MS-63 slab which put me in the #1 slot for B1 Reverse Morgans here is the link to the current #1 slot at Collectors Society(NGC) http://www.collectors-society.com/r...eSetID=19238
The VAM-81 is the only one that has eluded my capture as of now

I think they were unkind to you by at least a point on the grade.

you know I am unsure what the "B" in B1 represents but I would imagine since Milton Bolender did describe the early varieties and this is the same reverse as the 8TF has but its a 7Tf variety (has the long nock on the arrow) then that is what it stands for

Bryan, getting MS-64 Morgans out of any of the top TPGs these days is about as common as getting MS-68s from the same TPGs. Case in point: about 18 months ago, a dealer friend of mine who knew I collected Morgans had a raw 1892CC Morgan he had just taken in. He's no grading slouch, thought it would grade at least MS-64 or even MS-65, sent me quality pics. I compared it with other PCGS MS-64s and -65s and agreed with him, so bought it from him at a favorable MS-63 price. I submitted it to PCGS just KNOWING it would come back at least MS-64 and was quite hopeful for MS-65. Sho' 'nuff, it came back MS-63. Over the past two plus years, I've submitted a number of Morgans, both raw and crossovers (mostly NGC) to PCGS that were absolutely at least MS-64 by any standard; sho' 'nuff again, MS-63. I think the "4" on their label maker is broken. NGC seems to be following the PCGS trend on Morgan grades. Brutal, but at least they aren't body-bagging them (with one exception, but that's another story).

Oh yeah I had a buddy that has been a member of PCGS for years send in the 1891 to PCGS so when it gets back I will show pictures of it either body bagged or slabbed

That was my gripe with PCGS: they body-bagged an NGC MS-62 1890CC and wouldn't back down, even after a Presidential Review. Said it had been "harshly cleaned". I've been looking at Morgans for over half a century and this one shows absolutely no signs of cleaning. Under high magnification (~25X), it even shows a die crack, something that would have been eliminated by any surface alteration (i.e., harsh cleaning). When my PCGS Collector's Club membership runs out in September, I won't renew.

This one opened for me. What a gorgeous set, Bryan! I can see why you're so proud of it!

Actually, the other URL also opened for me. What happened was the login section opened and just sat there for awhile. If I had waited long enough, the whole page would have downloaded.

I guess my next question would be: where are you gonna find a VAM-81 to fill in the empty hole? I wouldn't even begin to know how to search for a VAM-81 unless the auction houses list them from time to time.

Fred

From the number of hits (305 when I checked) on that auction, it was bound to go for a premium. Maybe somebody's looking to replace you at Number One in the category. It's also gonna be tough to find - looks like only two VAM-81s have been attributed by PCGS although their VAM attribution program is still relatively new. Maybe advertise in the Numismatist classifieds?

Gud luk!
Fred