Uber-Vammer Test

After squinting on the world I think I have three of them figured out. The other two I have not even a clue. Overall you have me nearly baffled to these cherries. Did you score any of them?

OK, I'll give it a shot. You're diabolical, in case you didn't know.

I think we've discussed the '78-S? VAM-60?

The 1880-P has only one pickup I could see, but it seems conclusive: VAM-25 (Formerly 1E).

1888: Hot Lips. For $26. Sheesh.

I'm still working on the 8TF. Ruled out VAM-9 and VAM-23.

1891-O: My only guess is VAM-10.

I'm going to do some magic now. You saw those auction pictures as I did initially. See if "enhancement" helps? Here's the single obverse picture from auction #2. The seller posted a very small, obverse only picture for this auction. But it was enough to show a PUP for the 1880-P, VAM 6 "Spikes". I've enlarged the picture to show the missing hair (over polishing) that is a key PUP, and the spikes on top of the second 8. This is an 8/7 overdate that is not really that hard to find in grades below VF. This one could go AU and was a real bargain!



I will agree with SuperDave on the 78-S long nock. To me it looks like a VAM 60 and in great shape. It gets even better from here so stay tuned.

Oh yeah, SuperDave also got the 1888-O Hot lips (auction #3). From the final hammer price I don't think folks knew what this was.

Well, I just checked the information available on the VamWorld site for coin number 4 and I find out I have another "leg up". They don't even show the tail feather configuration for this VAM on that site. I have a copy of Jeff Oxman's 8TF book and it has additional information. I am 99% sure this is an A1L reverse which narrows the choice to three options, 14.2, 14.15, or 14.20. It's a process of elimination from there. Take a good look at the ear fill.

ocsjr2001, Yes, #5 is a 3A2 and you're welcome on the VAM 6. But, I'm going with 14.20 on #4. The piece of the puzzle missing at VamWorld is a picture of the polishing lines between the cotton bolls ... go figure since the VAM is called "boll lines". The picture is included in Oxman's book. If you look closely between the bolls you will see heavy diagonal lines. The 14.2 has very faint diagonal lines and the 14.15 has faint vertical lines. Also, the ear fill looks much longer than that shown for the 14.2. Of course this is conjecture and impossible to prove w/o the coin in hand. I was willing to mortgage the farm on that one.

So, here's a recap:

1. 1878-S VAM 60 Long Nock - VF sold for $104 (price in value guide $1000)
2. 1880 VAM 6 "Spikes" - AU sold for $20 (price in value guide $350)
3. 1888-O VAM 4 "Hot Lips" - F sold for $26 (price in value guide $250)
4. 1878 8TF VAM 14.20 in VF sold for $60 (price in value guide $5000)
5. 1891-O VAM 3A2 in VF sold for $25 (price in value guide $600)

I had gone with 14.15 because of the amount of hair in the 1st hair vee.

ocsjr2001,

This one doesn't have the die breaks on the obverse to support a 14.15 and the die gouge on the olive leaf on the reverse is larger on the 14.15 than the 14.2 or 14.20.

Here's the 14.15 gouge



This coin just has a blip