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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,870 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5625 Posts |
This is just a quick note to acknowledge the contributions and knowledge Terry has Brought to this forum since he has become a more staple member the Vamming hobby here is obviously a better place to be, a kinder person looking to grow the hobby, would be hard to locate, to you the man behind the curtain, Thanks for ALL you do and your presence is very welcome indeed..........   PS, Thank Goodness for the yellow brick road! |
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Valued Member
United States
175 Posts |
I absolutely agree. OZ has helped me tremendously by steering me in the direction of the information I need to Learn about this hobby. I've learned plenty since I've been here & OZ is one of ya'll who have made the collecting of Morgan dollars enjoyable for me Thank You Very Much OZ. |
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Valued Member
United States
220 Posts |
I second the motion. You should see him hold a sandwich in one hand, and a Morgan in the other hand with a loupe stuck in his eye at the lunch table. A sight to be seen.
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
I do not know about all of that, but he is one heck of a great guy.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
  without those with a greater understanding of the intricacies.. its easy to come close and miss the mark....Its much like grading coins.....where 5 people can see different grades,, yet the VAM can be conditionally Specific in nature...."noted" for its attribution features and later put into its die progression states....Its important to have help in understanding the whole of the process so as not to get lost in the "moment"...whereby many Vams are as there attributions are still unrevised..it is important to know that in time some VAM'S will find revisions when someone studies the whole series of the year, such as Alan Scott had done so in the past.....and others are working on similar projects....Some like Oz, what all to know there are variables in this process.. and some times there are ulterior motives...As with all thing's on the business side of collecting anything...Vams also have these issues.....though it is only one aspect of the whole it is a part that one should be aware of... The best thing of our individual research and findings is those we share it with and the friendships we encounter......and build.... To that I am gratefull for the time and talks I have had with Oz to have a greater understanding of Vamming....and how much "GRADING" to the TPG'S standards are such a factor.....Thanks so much  |
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Valued Member
United States
380 Posts |
He personally rubs me the wrong way. I like my back rubbed, not my legs. LOL
Terry invited me to a VAMers lunch some time ago. I wan introduced to 3 (including him) VERY knowledeable individuals... (Alan, Smitty, and Terry) Being a noob, I had no idea (at the time) the caliber of VAMers I was eating and chatting with. I was showed coins that at the time I was like... eh... big deal a clashed coin... only later to realize that 2 1887-P VAM-1B's, 1902-O VAM-45A, an PCGS MS-65 1879-S (rev 78), and COUNTLESS others that now are MEGA WOW coins. Like Terry, I was more interested in the individuals than the coins. (however, now the coins are a close second) At that lunch, as soon as we sat down, I was tested... Given numerous coins to grade without looking at the holder. (I am consertative in my grading so I passed the test by being within 1 point... mostly low... on all the coins in the test) At that time I was seeing Clashed E's EVERYWHERE. The only problem... none of them had a clashed E. During my first lunch I am handed an 1884-P VAM-2A PCGS MS-62 with a little rim toning. (A real clashed E coin) AHHHH... Very cool. I heard someone say: "I want you to have it."... Now everything I was taught is you dont accept these kinds of gifts for no reason, so my first response was... I cant take this! "Sure you can... when I first started out VAMing, this person took me under his wing and gifted me a nice coin, and I want to do the same." I cant accept this... its too much, you cant do this. "He can do anything he wants, he can kick you ass... would you rather have your butt kicked or keep this coin." Well, when it was put to me like that, I wasnt about to get my butt kicked so I said thank you a million times. I was in awe. Possibly the finest coin in my collection at the time. It was almost an emotional experience. I was humbled for sure.
There is NO BETTER ambassador for the hobby than "my lunch buddies".
Thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
709 Posts |
I personally want to thank my two dear friends Alan Scott and O.C. Smith Jr. (Smitty) for their patience, kindness and warmth of their friendship in helping me become a skilled vammer. I could not be where I am in my evolution as a vammer without their keen insights and open sharing of the very hard to learn tricks of trade. There are others as well, Larry Eakins, Jon Engstrom, Bud Sprink, Mike McCrady and Brian Raines. There are others as well whom I have never met but correspond and chat with. What I have learned is we each possess a piece of the yet filled in mosaic we call the VAM puzzle. The hobby is what we choose it to become if we choose to share our information openly and freely. I think what gets lost in the conversation is this is a hobby. Albeit a serious hobby at times where large sums of money are sometimes spent but still a hobby. Edited by Ozland
02/16/2011 6:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
3660 Posts |
Excellent Terry, reminds me of an awards ceremony acceptance speech, except you forgot to thank your parents, your producer, and your manager.... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
709 Posts |
I am actually very humbled by all of this. But I meant what I said. Everyone has something to contribute even if it is a dissenting view. No one should be made to feel belittled or feel their opinion is unwanted and to be scoffed at.
Having said that, I much prefer to operate under the radar. It is safer there.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5625 Posts |
Remmy1100,
The exact reason I took the time to post the comments I did, This is NOT your every day Vammer, I personally have learned some very interesting insightful knowledge from Terry. I mean to say, this is the way the hobby IMO, should be, enjoyed with other enthusiasts, Giving of ourselves knowledge, and or friendships also. The people you meet along the "yellow brick road" are as interesting as the coins, some more so, as your lunch story suggests!!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
Now this is exactly what makes CCF THE best forum in the world. The sharing of knowledge.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
I still have to wonder why a wrench is always tossed into the works....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5625 Posts |
Gene, I am NOT sure about your last comment?Question Everything!
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,870 |
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Posted 02/15/2011 8:10 pm
