Best website to attribute vams:
https://www.vamworld.comBest books to understand vams and attributing tips: The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan &
Peace dollars by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis. Affectionately known as "the big
VAM book" by collectors, this is currently in its fourth edition. First published in 1971, it was updated and reprinted in 1998. It contains a detailed listing of all known (at the time) die varieties listed date-by-date and is loaded with pictures. At more than 500 pages, it contains a wealth of mainstream information dealing with the history of
Morgan dollars, grading,
Counterfeit Detection, photography instruction and more. Leroy Van Allen has also put out supplements and detailed attribution guides since this work was published.
The Top 100
Morgan dollar Varieties by Michael S. Fey Ph.D. and Jeff Oxman. This guide lists popular die varieties with descriptions and detailed pictures. It offers rarity information as well as suggested values. You can purchase the latest guide, the 3rd edition, Avaliable from Dr. Fey's web site, RCI Inc
1878
Morgan dollar 8-TF Attribution Guide, 3rd edition. A guide to attributing the 8 tail-feather Morgans. It includes a system for determining the
VAM number. It includes rarity and value information as well. By Jeff Oxman and Less Hartnett with photos by Bill Fivaz, directly from Jeff Oxman's web site, VAMlink.com
1878-S
Morgan dollar Attribution Guide by Leroy Van Allen and Craig Lickenbrock, July 2006, 100 page bound copies with 377 photos, $19.95 + $3 P&H. Direct orders to Leroy Van Allen P.O. Box 196 Sidney, OH 45365.
The Official Guide to the Top 50
Peace dollar Varities by Jeff Oxman & Dr. David Close, Photos by Bill Fivaz and Dr. David Close. A picture-filled reference detailing the most desirable
Peace dollar varieites. Avaiable from Dr. Fey's web site, RCI Inc
Elite Clashed
Morgan dollars written by Mark Kimpton with photos by Leroy C. Van Allen. The 147 page book offer hundreds of photographs, descriptions, rarity estimates and values for many clashed
Morgan dollars. Avaialble from Dr. Fey's web site, RCI Inc.
1879s Reverse of 1878
Morgan dollar Book by David T. Wang. A 52 page book that attributes 15 varieties of this top 100 coin with hundreds of reference pictures have been released. The Results of the collaborative research by Mr Calvin Cherry, Mr. William Eubanks, Dr Mike Fey, Mr Leroy Van Allen, and the author David Wang is presented to the Numismatic Community. Avaialble from Dr. Fey's web site, RCI Inc.
Fun With 1921, Denver
Morgan dollars with Die Breaks, Die Gouges and Filled Dies, by Rob Joyce.
A detailed study of the die varieties produced at the Denver mint in 1921. Currently out of print. VAMworld information is more current.
The SSDC 7/8 TF Attribution Guide. Identification of 7 over 8 tail-feather Morgans. It includes attributions for all 7/8TF and B1 reverse varieties. By Less Hartnett and Jeff Oxman with photos by Bill Fivaz.
SSDC Official Guide to the Hot 50
Morgan dollar Varieties. An attribution guide for additional varieties beyond the Top 100 list. By Jeff Oxman with Photos by Bill Fivaz. Currently out of print. (Copies appeared at the Baltmore show, Nov 2008. Available soon?)
Guide Book of
Peace dollars, by Roger W. Burdette with Barry Lovvorn. As the 13th entry in Whitman's Bowers Series of numismatic references. It covers every date and mintmark of America's last 90% silver dollar, which began as a commemorative of peace after the tribulations of World War One. The book also studies the mysterious 1964-D
Peace dollar, as well as proofs, patterns, trial pieces, errors and misstrikes and countermarks.
While I am in a good mood Attribution Tips--
Here are some thoughts on how to attribute a
VAM that could prove useful.
- Date position is not important for 1878 and 1921 Morgans. They were punched into master dies. Some repunching of digits, however, on the working dies can be useful.
- The 18 part of the date was, similarly, prepunched into the master dies for many of the other years. Repunching on those digits and the positions of the last two digits (and position markers, like dashes) can help attribute an obverse a lot.
- Normally, clashed dies stay paired. Looking at the reverse die, you can predict whether the n, t, mint mark, ... are likely clashed onto the obverse. If the cotton blossoms are not clashed above the arrowheads, the likelihood of an E clash is low.
- Doubling of LIBERTY indicates a II/I dual hubbing of the obverse die. This can help reduce the candidates to consider.
- A doubled olive on the reverse for an early 20th century Morgan indicates a C4/C3 dual hubbing and can, similarly, reduce the number of candidates.
- 1921 obverse and reverse dies were completely different from the previous Morgans. A lot of people see listable details that are simply part of that design. Examples are doubled ear/lip/tailfeathers, doubled reverse right star, spike from F of OF (one of the two hub designs), ...
- Cracks are not listable for a new designation. Nor are
Grease Filled Dies, though some have made it in the past. In general, striking errors or strike issues are not die varieties.
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Posted 01/24/2011 01:55 am
the reason for me mentioning the coin was 1- the extreme toning, I thought it was bizarre, 2ndly the price it was sold for, do you recall the coin, Thanks for any effort, Mike.....Any one remember the coins look... 
Small word of advice,, this coin is not very "EYE" appealing,,,it has dings in places that just distract....
you have much time to seek out wisdom and gain knowledge to buy nice coins at a good price...!!
...For example, one think to learn is OFTEN EBAYERS "overuse" light to hide faults. the light bounces back at you and the detail is mostly lost, and that's there point...mo-mony, for beat up coins....A good dealer will always have fair photo's....some have EXTREMELY FABULOUS photo's....Search seller "Rarcoa" he's one of many where you can click on the lower images and they get HUGE..do doubt what your Bidding on there.... save them to your favorite sellers area to keep track of what they have,
