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 Replies: 20 / Views: 3,123 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
548 Posts |
How do you guys do this? VAM identification seems so difficult to the newbie. Yet so many of you are so quick at it. Any shortcuts to acquiring this knowledge? I've got the VAM book coming. Sometime this week, I guess. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
When you are dealing with thousands of different minutiae, there are no shortcuts in learning how to attribute them. The only "shortcuts" are reading the big book o' VAMs from cover to cover, studying every page at VAMWorld, and studying thousands of high res images in the Heritage Archives. Learning how to properly attribute VAMs is a huge timesink but it certainly can be rewarding when you cherrypick your first Top 100  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
548 Posts |
Are there some general areas to look for that would identify a significant percentage of VAMs?
For example that one I stumbled onto earlier (that I've posted here) had fairly obvious die doubling. Any other things common to many VAMs?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Well along with the book you could always just buy a few full bags of old unsearched Morgans to VAM out yourself! (Joking). Go to http://www.vamworld.com they have a great starter page (so does this site), vamworld is fast becoming the model of specialized coin variety websites, it's full of tons of info, photos, and great members that keep it all running. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1551 Posts |
WARNING........ ONCE BITTEN BY THE VAM BUG..... IT RELEASES I VIRUS THAT HAS NO CURE... IT CAN ONLY BE TREATED BY BUYING 1 MORGAN A WEEK MINIMUM MANY HAVE TRIED TO BE CURED ONLY TO FIND THEMSELVES DREAMING OF 1878 P VAM-44's AND ALIKE.   Edited by twohawks
11/30/2011 07:38 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
548 Posts |
Now you've done it. You've made me look through the 1878's I have.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
I too have been bitten by the VAM bug. I attributed my GSA 1884-CC on the VAM website, but too late to have it added to my ANACS foil seal. Someone mentioned a VAM website (on my home computer favorites). VAMWorld? Practice, and several breaks in between to rest your eyes or you will start to see things that really are not there. Edited by oih82w8
11/30/2011 09:39 am
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Valued Member
United States
170 Posts |
I caught the VAM bug two months ago. Is there a name for this virus? After two months of intense study I attributed my first VAM today. An easy VAM 58. But thrilling. CCF is the best place to stay grounded. They tell it like it is, but gently. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I got bit hard when I was studying my 1878 double feathers. Looking at the obverse first I swore the blossoms were tripled. I flipped the coin over only to find out it is actually a VAM 38. Still a lot of cool markers on this coin but not worth anywheres near the VAM 44. I am still confused on how the VAM 38 appears with and without the reverse clash marks without a sub category for one or the other. Mine does have the clash marks. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
VAM, bam, thank you ma'am!  Especially if is a rare one! Edited by oih82w8
11/30/2011 1:43 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
548 Posts |
Quote:
VAM, bam, thank you ma'am!
Especially if is a rare one! I'd read that. Only problem was actually doing it. I need a computer scanner to do all the work. Yep. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
I found it helpful for the big dates (those with 100+ die marriages) to look for grouping factors. I did this for the 1878-P's and a copy of it is posted in the archives here and on VAMWorld (1878 Attribution By the Numbers). The 78-S VAMWorld page is also sortable by to key attributes (broken 'r' in trust, and broken 4th right star) by clicking the link on the page. This enables you to narrow your attribution within much smaller group.
If you learn the key attribution points for the dates/mints it will help you immensely.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I attended the very first ANA Summer Seminar on VAMs by Jeff Oxman and Dr. Michael Fey in Colorado Springs right around the time the TOP100 book came out, even had a chance to purchase a VAM44 1878-P 7/8 in MS62/63 PL for about $2500 from another student, I passed, Doh! But seeing how much could be made fom Vamming all my dollars and at dealers and shops/shows those first few months, really allowed me to get a leg up on aquirring some really great tough VAMs before the word got out. The bug bit and I never stopped collecting them! Also look to joining the SSDC (Society of Silver Dollar Collectors) if you are really into them. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
548 Posts |
Two outstanding posts! Thanks! Now, where's the "bow" smilie? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
You may want to concentrate on a couple of biggies, in the more common dates, and search for those at a coin show, I looked at every 1878-S dollar I can at coin shows just in the hopes I might turn up a long arrow nock, I've found 3 so far the highest grade was AU in a junk box! (Made about 1000% profit that day), I traded it off for some other dollars I needed, probably should have held on to it though in hindsight.
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
548 Posts |
I was at the Houston Coin show this past weekend, and as far as I could tell, all the dealers were selling slabbed coins. I didn't see any junk boxes...
Maybe I didn't look too well.
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Replies: 20 / Views: 3,123 |
Posted 11/29/2011 5:14 pm
