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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,781 |
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New Member
Singapore
33 Posts |
My dad left behind a bucketful of coins but managed to find one of the silver dollar, Trade dollar and some coins still rolled up in tube with wax paper. All assessments are welcome  , but I'm still confused with variations? Thanks.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I am not sure what VAM this is but if someone doesn't give you one by tomorrow when I get back at the computer I will try and look it up and see what I can find |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
A rather nice coin, showing just a very little bit of circulation. Morgan dollars are studied for variety and classified with the name of "VAM," which is an acronym for the names of the two men who first started this process, Van Allen and Malis. It's a painstaking process most of the time, because the features are rarely obvious to the naked eye. Have a look at the thread at the top of this forum, entitled "What is a VAM?" Your 1885 is going to be one of the difficult ones. It lacks any of the obvious features which immediately identify a specific variety, so one must look at relatively minute doubling at various places on the coin. Even if you find yourself interested in the VAMming process, this one should wait until your skills (and patience!) develop further.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
I'm not sure of the VAM yet,but I particularly noted the sharpness of this coin!!Fabulous strike... I see an early struck coin from newer dies which deteriorate as the number of coins are minted. I will copy your photo's and enlarge them to see if there are any features that relate to VAM varieties, how every many times it requires Macro or close up photo's of certain features to pin down the varieties...As SD noted for your coin there are no SMOKING GUNS to ZERO in on what you may have....there are however some nice varieties for this year...which you may or not have,,in this case some close up pictures may be required to learn what you may have, if you have that capacity for macro shots...AS BRYAN said lets expand your shots and see what we can see... |
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New Member
 Singapore
33 Posts |
Thanks Brothers for your honest analysis, but I really know "nuts" abour American Dollars Coins. Whether this coin is replica or not, I just want to keep it and pass down to the next generation, for the learning process to differential between real and replica. Sorry, don't own any DSLR at the moment, just a normal compact camera. Thanks
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
if you have a macro mode on your Point and shoot camera that may be sufficient, just get as close as you can at certain areas in macro mode and push the button in half way to see if it can focus clearly, if not back up a little and try it again. keep this up until you are as close as you can get to get a clear shot. I do have a DSLR camera now but most of the pictures I have posted on this site has been with a 3.3 MP point and shoot. Oh yeah, I don't see anything that would make me suspect this coin as being a copy or a fake so I think you are safe as far as that goes. Now I would love to see this " Trade dollar" you said you found because that is one of the highest counterfeited coins out there and has been since their creation. Not saying yours is fake but a picture could probably let you know either way (and pictures like the ones you already provided of this one of the Trade dollar would be sufficient for Counterfeit Detection because we would not be looking for varieties where you need macro shots) |
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New Member
Singapore
33 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1551 Posts |
Trade dollars give me fit's as there are so many counterfeits and they have been getting very good. To the point where if I cant hold them and look them over closely I will not buy it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
in the past one point of reference for fakes was the rim was larger/thicker than the denticles. which this one is not...looks good but one would have to send it in to be sure...
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,781 |
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Posted 08/02/2011 11:44 am
