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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,626 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
612 Posts |
This is my first post and so don't want this entire VAM site mad at me, but I don't get it. What's so fascinating about a VAM? Most are so subtle that you really do need a 10 or 15 power loop to see, and when you do ...... so what. Something as obvious as a double die 1955 penny I understand, but a die crack that leaves a mark between letters or a double die so faint that it's only visible under strong magnification. Am I missing something here? Really, educate me because I just don't understand why people are so enamored with something that takes a 15 power loop to see. And let me mention, that I started collecting Morgans and Peace dollars a few years ago ......... nothing real spendy mind you, raw un-slabbed coins and I just love it when I find a real gem. And I do have some that would be considered VAMs, but as my question was, I don't get it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7276 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
You really don't have to get it. It's not for everyone. Collect what you like how you like. And  to the CCF |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5394 Posts |
Agreed a lot of VAMS are pretty hard to deal with .
That said some are most interesting and scarce .
It is a real challenging area of numismatics , that is certainly
a load of fun and can be profitable . I for one am hooked!
Biggest issue is finding the cash and patience to troll through
Bucket loads of Cartwheels in better grades!
Over the years we have sold many Top 100 and Hit List VAMS
in ANACS HOLDERS . They are your best friend for slabbing VAMS.
Edited by Pacificoin
12/31/2019 1:02 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17923 Posts |
I know very little about VAMs, but when buying one of the scarcer Morgan dollars (such as my 1893CC) it was great to be able to compare features of my coin to known die pairings to check that it was genuine. The only series of UK coins that's had a similar study is the Victorian bronze penny. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1551 Posts |
Well if you collect Lincoln Cents most will want a 1922 No D, a 1955 double die, 1972 double die and a 1909 S VDB, as well as an 1909 S. All of the above mentioned types are "Verities", and in the world of Lincoln cents there are many different verities as well. For the mid level collector just having the 6 main bold verities is all they care about in the set they are building. Others also wish to own the "minor verities". VAM is the name designation of the verities, and Leroy Van Allen and George Malish wrote the Book, hence V "an" A "llen" M "alish" VAM. VAM is nothing but an acronym. Some varieties are bold stand outs like the Scarface, or the 1901 double die reverse. Others in the 1878 8 TF set are extremely rare because the dies broke before they struck 100 coins. In 1878 the mint was still playing with the correct annealing of the dies, and a few where over hardened, so they broke under the pressures of striking. So, if you collect pennies you most likely own a 1955 double die or what one, if you collect quarters you what a Weak Motto, if you collect half dollars you what a bugs bunny. Its a matter of where an individual what's there collection to contain. Personally I wonder about a lot of things like. Why people text and drive, as it causes more deaths and injures then people using firearms. Why people find it hard to be kind. and Why my wife asks me if I WHAT to rake Leaves this weekend!  The easiest explanation is VAM is an acronym for varieties in Morgan and Peace dollars Edited by twohawks
01/02/2020 11:59 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Technically every Morgan/Peace should have a VAM associated with it, whether someone wants to pull out the microscope and figure it out is the question, and yes, many many of them are very minor. But there are still a bunch of fascinating varieties in the mix too that makes the hunt a hoot. Related to US Classics, my collection focuses on 1882. For cents, nickels, dimes, and $1, this is one of the most common years. For 3c, 25c and 50c, it was very limited production, so entry level, well circulated examples are still hundreds of dollars to start. For the affordable stuff like the cents, nickels, and $1, it is cherry-picking the varieties that keeps my hobby interesting. $1 has the powerful O/S and O/O and a plethora of clashed dies that keeping me chasing for a couple dozen coins instead of a couple easy to find (literally every coin shop has them). For the cents, the Snow varieties include the multiple 1s in the neckline, lazy eyes over date, etc. Nickels have their overdates and DDO, shattered dies, etc... These varieties tell the story of the mint each year as they keep up demand and production. Each die ends up telling a story of sorts, and those stories keep this whole thing interesting to me. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2462 Posts |
just a thought, but you might want to read a little of the history of VAMs & Morgan/Peace dollars, get yourself a (good used) copy of the Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of US Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars by Van Allen & Mallis. I have a hardback second printing from 1977. I didn't know what they were & didn't understand it until I read the book. after reading the book and sifting through many morgans I became enlightened by it, and now I feel I have better cherrypicking skills. that book moved me around a corner as a collector. I've managed to pick a few interesting VAMs over the past several years, but the VAMs that float my boat are the big, nasty errors.. die breaks, gouges, clashing.. I like those error coins where the errors are easily seen. i, too, don't get too excited (most times) about those tiny flaws that are a struggle to see, but I understand them better and I understand why they appeal to other ppl. VAM knowledge, while specific to morgan/peace dollars, can be applied throughout the broader spectrum of coin collecting. helps train your eyes. it's a great feeling to walk into a coin shop & be able to eagle-eye a really cool VAM everyone else passes over, or the coin shop misses entirely (watch those 'junk silver' bins, they sometimes have gems in them). now anytime I get my hands on a morgan I'm hot to try to determine it's VAM designation. it's a terrific challenge I'm always up for. I'm glad I took the time to nose into it. it's been very fun & educational. and it helped to get me here, which I am very thankful for. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
What Twohawks said. I missed the big treasury hoard release in the early 60's.. VAMs, IMO are one of the few areas that are left where you and I can still find rare and valuable coins. Even in dealer stock. I can't tell you how many times I have turned a HUGE profit with the VAM knowledge I have. You can't find 1955 DDOcents because everyone already knows about them. You can find an 1878 8TF that could be worth $5000 because VAMs are understudied. Just my opinion. |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,626 |
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Posted 12/31/2019 12:40 pm
