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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,245 |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
 I was in the mall today, having a watch band fixed. That same mall happened to house the only coin dealer in the area, so I wandered in for a look. He's a "Collectibles" dealer, having everything under the sun from coins to cards to trains to toys, etc., all collectible stuff. I guess he's got six figures' worth of coins, though, including a rather decent drawer full of AU gold and some mid-dollar Morgans (decent CC's, 1890's vintages, and the like). Like many dealers, his prices are a tad high. After all, he *does* have mall rent to pay. And, only the owner (whom I haven't met yet) is into coins - the rest of the employees are drones or specialists in other areas. So, as a customer, I don't expect a lot of expert help - indeed, the kid who took care of me today seemed a bit taken aback by my rather intense manner when examining coins. Well, today I bought my first two coins from the place, and here's one of them. I'm tentatively calling this one VAM-33A. Any opinion on attribution, and what do you think NGC graded it?    
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
Long Nock?
I'd say MS64-65
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6392 Posts |
Hi Dave,
I don't know much about VAMs although I'm vaguely aware of the Long Nock 1878-S. So far I haven't managed to cherry-pick any of those. Apparently this feature also is found on some Philadelphia coins. Now I'm wondering about Carson City. Are any 1878-CC Long Nocks known to exist?
This coin is clearly MS with nice luster. There are a lot of small hits and chatter marks, especially in the reverse fields. The cheek however looks mostly clean. I'd give it a 63.
Is this also one of those 7/8 or 7/5 tailfeathers varieties?
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
quote:
Hi Dave,
I don't know much about VAMs although I'm vaguely aware of the Long Nock 1878-S. So far I haven't managed to cherry-pick any of those. Apparently this feature also is found on some Philadelphia coins. Now I'm wondering about Carson City. Are any 1878-CC Long Nocks known to exist?
This coin is clearly MS with nice luster. There are a lot of small hits and chatter marks, especially in the reverse fields. The cheek however looks mostly clean. I'd give it a 63.
Is this also one of those 7/8 or 7/5 tailfeathers varieties?
Here's the quick rundown about Long Nocks: All 8-tailfeather reverses, all of which are from Philadelphia, are Long Nocks. All the 7/8 Tailfeather varieties (also more accurately called 7/3, 7/4, 7/5, or Weak and Strong) originate from the 8-tailfeather dies and are Long Nocks. Some of the B (7-tailfeather original design) reverses, called B1's, are Long Nocks. These are all Philadelphia issues here. The B2 reverse also has the flat breast, but the shorter nock. The C reverse, also known as Reverse of 79, uses the same reverse as from 1879-1904. San Francisco also used a B1 reverse on some coins - they're rather popular as well. Carson City's 1878 issues are about evenly divided between Long Nocks and short ones. There's much, much more.  The coin pictured here is a 7/4 Tailfeather variety. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
aren't them 1878's just a hoot to learn and keep up with
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Pillar of the Community
United States
547 Posts |
 You're killing me!  I agree its 33A. As for grade, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that NGC gave it a 64, although I do think that there is a bit too much chatter in the field. |
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Forum Mom
United States
5877 Posts |
I think that NGC gave it a 64 due to the popularity of the over-tail feather variety. In my opinion, it should be a 63, but I do tend to fly in the face of popular opinion.  The reverse has semi-prooflike qualities. I don't know if NGC would have bothered to note that or not. As far as the variety goes, I have decided that my VAM book is too old and really stinks. What is the most current VAM book now? I need to get one and then I'll sell this older one here on the forum for cheap. The "chin spike" looks like it might be a die clash....? |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
quote:
As far as the variety goes, I have decided that my VAM book is too old and really stinks. What is the most current VAM book now? I need to get one and then I'll sell this older one here on the forum for cheap.
I missed addressing this the first time. Susan, the 4th Edition, published 1993, is the latest. Something like 3,000 VAM's have been assigned since. I only open mine for background information these days - between VAMworld and Ashmore, I do almost all my attribution online these days. http://vamworld.wikispaces.com/http://www.ashmore.com/index2.htm |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
I don't know anything about VAMs but what's up with the mis-placed fang on Anna's chin? And the spike in her lower lip. She going punk on us or is that some kind of clashed dies?  Edited by longnine009
06/24/2007 7:45 pm
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
quote:
She going punk on us or is that some kind of clashed dies?
 Nope, she hasn't gone punk. It's clashing. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,245 |
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Posted 06/22/2007 7:11 pm
