VAMs, Just Who Do You Think Is Driving The Train!

This whole VAM thing seems somewhat interesting, but it must take countless hours to develop the expertise to spot such seemingly minor differences. Do these small variations of coins have a large impact on value? Is that what these "Top" lists some of you referred to are?

Hello and welcome to the Forum, yes at times those small things do make a difference....that is why many must ask themselves what is the big deal....but it comes down to a simple thing...the big value coins are big because there are so few of them, or there are many of them but so few in the "higher grades"..where they accelerate in price......in general it does take some time to study, which is a wonderful learning experience by it self, UNLESS your into the get rich thing.....

honestly, between you and me these people, from my time of studies...which is not just the coins....but the who's who...and many are a wonderful personnel who help us who know less...yet is in there hands to descipher where will this thing called VAM's go...yes many are dealers...and as you know, you and I are not included......but my friend we still see and have opinions....and questions....to imply..
our interests are being considered..........If we never posted who would know our thoughts or interest?

Happy Holidays To All, Best of Health and Well Being.....ENJOY the Holiday Spirit.PS, Do not forget to leave a small snack for the one bearing gifts......

This same discussion could be had for anything related to coins. Errors could be the same thing because people search out errors that others may not know about not only for their collection but for resale to make money. I am not sure why everyone is singling out the VAMming community all the time saying money is behind the whole thing when no one ever speaks about these other areas of variety or error collectors that have the same motives. It is just the way it goes. if there is money to be made someone will figure out how to do so. If all you have to do is have the knowledge to recognize one thing from another and make money from it I see nothing wrong with it. No one puts down the Doctor for knowing how to perform heart surgery and charge for their knowledge because they are in a small group that uses their knowledge to perform it. These boards like this and others are our school where we learn how to detect certain things that could help finance what ever you are working towards, and I do not think the ones that do that are actually wrong in their actions, it is just the path they have chosen. It may not be the path I chose but I can't fault them for taking the one they did. We have scientists that hype up things to make them money like global warming (I am sure there are allot of alterior motives that have made allot of people allot of money because of this) and some have even lied in order to make money from it and there are others that just saw an opportunity to make money doing certain things to bring the environment to the attention of others that may not otherwise care. We can all say that there have been some great things that have been invented because of this movement from cars that run on burnt vegetable oil to power from a wind mill. Not all of these are new ideas but it really accelerated their usefulness in the community even though not all of the people behind it really cared about anything but the money that could be made. I guess what I am saying is even though there are some that is going to look at every opportunity to make money on something doesn't mean the whole thing bad and some people actually have good intent behind what they are doing. I also am saying I hate for everyone to jump on the bandwagon and single out one small group for them doing the same thing that all the others are doing, it makes me think the ones that keeps bringing up the down fall of this one group have alterior motives of their own. All this being said I may just back out of the rest of these discussions because its really getting nowhere for me and not helping me achieve my goal in any way. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and hope you get everything on your Christmas list this year

Merry Christmas to us all.

I can not help but to try to explain my seeing things, I am an error collector, I love a good coin, that exhibits an out of the ordinary "error" from the mint, I do not see an errors society of America, trying to take over as the go to people or the obvious choice to pass the torch to if " Mr Error" should step away from his long, researched area of Numismatics, I too collect them but would not and are not seeking the opportunity to take over,

I see your point about doctors, I go to them for my health concerns and expect their assistance in helping diagnose and treat me as such, I really do not think the doctor is an example which comes even close to the extremes of the collectors society, I see the doctors being covered by this thing called insurance and believe me, I have had some insane bills and have commented on them as being insane and over the top, but when the day is over, I know there is a group that has anticipated these concerns and pays out the doctors bill, what ever it may be, sure I could of been a Doctor, I simply chose not to be in the field, but again, believe me, I have commented on the fees they receive, god like egos included.

I see the reason for your comparisons of these groups and many things stand out, If they were to lose their leadership, so to speak, I venture there are people in place to see the proper qualified people would be considered for the job, by a governing board not the people who discuss and feel they are the obvious choice.

I do NOT know why the fuss is stirring around about the control factor of this topic, I can speak for me, I have been treated well by some doctors, which I return to seek their opinions, also I have been seen by some "larger than life"( in their minds ) doctors with the poorest bedside manners and would never consider returning, just because they were known in the community as being very capable and knowledgeable. I have learned many things in my life and one thing for sure, when you are treated poorly by one of these people, it never feels good, and it is hard to forget the way in which you felt while being "treated"

I do know there are plenty of people and knowledge at the site we discuss, and admire the group as a whole, but something about the power struggle for the rights to control something larger than us all, and the ways in which going about the same well, IMO, SPEAKS plenty about the term entitlement......... I do NOT see things going down the same path for much longer, whether this is good or indifferent, remains to be seen, one thing for sure, I am not driving this hobby off course or are a conductor on this topic train, however I am a passenger sitting back and enjoying the sights out the windows and things some times look very dark,but, I am pretty sure the sun will come up again and shine light on this topic and more for ALL to see.........( I HOPE ).