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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,132 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4618 Posts |
Hello to all after a long time away from CCF, I'm back with some information and the need for lots of details on the 1878-P, 8 tf, VAM-9a coin. Yesterday I found I've had a very interesting coin for years. It is know as "The First Morgan dollar" due to the fact it was struck from the FIRST die pair used to strike the 8 Tail Feather Morgan dollars! I know that this post needs pictures and I'm working on it. I'll be scanning it first then taking detailed photos as soon as I can get setup to do so. As I said I've had this coin for years and only did a detailed check of the coin, which looks to me in high AU condition, but is very darkly toned, YESTERDAY! It's one of very few of these "First Morgan dollar" VAMs as the die pair is thought to have fail at a low count of 303 coins. Most are the 1878 VAM-9 and the last few clashed VAMs are 1878 VAM-9A were struck. This of course also makes it the first clashed Morgan dollar. Because it was from the die pair for the first Morgans struck, it has lots of well known documentation about the history of the coin and the fact that only 303 were struck with this die set before it failed, it's easy to confirm that this coin is from the first pair of Morgan Dies. The first coins struck were presented to President Rutherford B. Hayes. That presentation coin shows the details that make it a VAM-9. The last few coins struck with the first die pair were are known as VAM-9a Morgans. These coins are heavily clashed with the total population of the VAM-9a in Aug of 2013 was only 17 coins. I don't know who the VAM expert on CCF is, but I would like to talk to him or her about this coin very much. Sorry if I have repeated myself, but I'm quite happy to have this coin! Much more to follow, I hope, and ANY one who can help me with details I don't know about this VAM die pair, have wrong or just don't know... PLEASE contact me. Any and or ALL details would be appreciated! Ben *for an idea of what this coin looks like, check http://www.vamworld.com/1878-P+VAM-9A or http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/Detail/133792 * ANA ID: 3203813 - CONECA ID: N-5637 Clean a coin that may be worth collecting? Please DON'T! When in doubt, leave it dirty!! 
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Let's have a look at her.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4618 Posts |
First Scans with a 600 dpi scanner, not great, but it's an idea of what it looks like.   Ben ANA ID: 3203813 - CONECA ID: N-5637 Clean a coin that may be worth collecting? Please DON'T! When in doubt, leave it dirty!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
This Morgan does not appear to be a VAM9 or 9a to me. The small feathers between the eagles wing and leg are not right for the VAM 9 or 9a. It looks to be in the VF range as far as grade. Edited by 1893S
09/24/2015 12:50 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I'm having trouble making out the feather details.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
I used my magnifying glass. It doesn't have the easy to distinguish "comma" feather. I can even seen that without it, but, I double checked with my magnifier.
Edited by 1893S
09/24/2015 2:56 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Agree, but I can't make out the other side to even tell what it might be.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4618 Posts |
Sorry if I'm wrong on this one. The CCF would know much better than I. That's why I always asked here first. As I said, the scan is really bad. The "Comma" feather is there, but the scan is so poor that it washes out all of the details. I feel sure it's the VAM-9a from all of the details listed in VAMworld and PCGS as they match. It's one of the coins I'll be sending to PCGS soon, so they will let me know if it's just wishful thinking on my part. Thanks to everyone who took the time to look and let me know. Certification will let us know if I missed the mark. As always... more details to come. Ben ANA ID: 3203813 - CONECA ID: N-5637 Clean a coin that may be worth collecting? Please DON'T! When in doubt, leave it dirty!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
Better pictures will save you the $. It's most likely a details coin due to an old cleaning. But even my assumption of that could be due to poor scans. All we need is clear pics |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4618 Posts |
Quote:
Better pictures will save you the $. It's most likely a details coin due to an old cleaning. But even my assumption of that could be due to poor scans. All we need is clear pics The scans are the worst I ever posted! I used an old printer that had a scan feature so I could share the image with my friends at CCF as soon as I could. This was a bad idea. It turns out the scan was only a 300 dpi and to let you know HOW bad it is, the reverse shows none of the chest feathers but, although they show light wear, they are there. When I look at the coin, I really don't doubt that it's a VAM-9a, but when I look at my scan I wonder if it's even a Morgan. Does anyone know of a dependable coin dealer in the Tom's River area of New Jersey? I could have them take a look if they know VAMs. Once again, thanks for the replies. I'll let you know what I find out as soon as possible. Thanks! Ben ANA ID: 3203813 - CONECA ID: N-5637 Clean a coin that may be worth collecting? Please DON'T! When in doubt, leave it dirty!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
You can send it to john at Variety Slabbing Service for much less than a TPG @ $5 plus shipping and he will put it in a generic slab with a label of what VAM it is. Unless it's too far gone to be ID'd. He's one of the best in the business of VAM identification and his stickers are as good as gold. If you want to go TPG, I'd go with anacs to diagnose it. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
 with Cascade on sending to VSS. Chances are just any coin dealer may not know Morgan dollar VAMs beyond the popular ones in the series. (which is good for cherry picking)  |
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Valued Member
United States
122 Posts |
Hard to see in the scans, but from the little bit of clashing I can see, my personal feeling is that it is VAM 14a |
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Valued Member
United States
149 Posts |
Quote:You can send it to john at Variety Slabbing Service for much less than a TPG @ $5 plus shipping and he will put it in a generic slab with a label of what VAM it is. $6 plus shipping, actually. Thanks for the recommendation! |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,132 |
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Posted 09/23/2015 10:07 pm
