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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,976 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Hi guys, I just found that one of my morgans is a choice 1889p VAM 5b pitted & clashed reverse. It does not have a wing bar but a line clash of liberty's neck from wing to "n" with every other sign very strong as well. It would grade at ms-63 or 64... any ideas of value and population? Did I find a "grail" type VAM (especially being choice grade) of high value or just a common cheapo? Thanks for the help as I am just getting acquainted with vams.... also, I see in pcgs set registries that hit 40 top sets don't have 5b vams but they do have the 5a, what gives? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2373 Posts |
Looks like there is 14 listed in the SSDC registry with MS63 as the top pop. There is normally a premium for this VAM but I don't how it is trending at the moment. PCGS is always late to the dance with new Vams and additions that are recognized by LVA, VamWorld, and authors of the lists in question. They are resistant to change since any changes or additions affect their participants in their Registry Set competitions. nlp |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
The Hit List 40 lists 5A and 5B as a single entry, like (for instance) 1878-P V116 which has 4 separate sub-VAMs under one listing. If you can actually put it into a 64 slab it'll fetch a pretty fair price.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7390 Posts |
Thanks for the info guys. It may get a 64 but definitely a 63! Are we talking hundreds or thousands in value?... also, I have an 1887p it has most all the indicators except 2 things... the E clash is faint but definitely there & the die Crack through the date is a little lower on the numbers than on the VAM world pics. But the Cracks through stars to left of liberty on VAM world are a photo match fingerprint to mine. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
*talking about 1887p VAM 1b clashed E |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
A VAM whose premium as much as doubles the "regular" grade price is a valuable VAM indeed, and this isn't one of them. It's on the order of a $150 coin becoming a $200 coin. The beauty of VAMming is the moment you find one feature wrong (like a die crack in a close but dissimilar location) the VAM is conclusively eliminated from consideration. Die crack locations must be exact, and can only differ in degree of development. If the date is cracked differently, it can't be 1B. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Thanks Dave, that's what I was wondering on the 1b... How the crack could slightly move... Any ideas on actual value of the 89 5b if it comes back 63? Thanks...
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I'm really not in a position to estimate good pricing for it, because I don't have access to the census figures which would allow me to gauge how much demand there might be. It would be demand-driven because of the relatively small number of true specialists who would be interested.
It's quite common to see die cracks in similar locations. They're usually a sign of a weak point in the die related to the design and how forces propagate during the strike. So dies crack in that weak area, but never in the exact same location so they have the same value as fingerprints.
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Valued Member
United States
199 Posts |
I agreed with SsuperDdave 100%. Die crack locations must be exact.
You said the die crack through the date is a little lower.
Check out VAM-13A.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
It's a cool thing, really, because it instantly teaches the fundamental skill of VAMming. You have to study fingerprints like fingerprints, and the moment you "get" die cracks instinctively you have command of the attribution process. Die cracks should be required.  |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,976 |
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Posted 12/28/2014 2:37 pm
