Thoughts on this 1878 S Morgan

It's actually quite easy once you know what you're doing and how to navigate the VW listings. Don't let it intimidate you

 

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Those are two entirely different collecting demographics, though. Not to be a downer; just trying to be objective about it. 1B6 has value only to the VAM specialist, otherwise it's just another 1921. And it's by far the most common Thornhead.

 

Well if and when I do decide to let it go one of us will tell the other I told you so

 

You know me. I've eaten so much crow I've acquired the taste.

 

I get it...but I'm still missing something.

Are we talking PAIRS of particular or mismatched dies, the right obverse but the wrong reverse or vice-versa ?

I think I am confused on why it matters what obverse and/or reverse dies a particular MSD was struck with. Does it matter which MSD was minted on June 24, 1887 if you could verify the actual date (and maybe time of the day) and make it more valuable than one minted on August 9th, 1887 ?

I'm missing something here with the dies matching up to particular MSDs. Why is it important ? If you could do it on $20 Saints I don't think I'd care one lick -- except I might be paying alot more for regular commons which got struck with a particular pair of dies. Without knowing this, we have a more homogenous population and greater liquidity.

I'll check VAM via Wikepedia, maybe that'll help me.

 

Yes you are correct about the in - depth studying of coins as a variety collector. Google The top 25 Capped Bust Half Dimes and check out that Web site, there are references on the Web for just about ever series. I chose the half dime site because I really love these little gems.
However that said . ....No matter what series, or series you choose collecting vams ,varieties , or cherry picking, coins is so rewarding. First of all you look at coins differently.
You learn to memorize certain aspects of different series.
This may sound crazy, but it keeps your brain alert. As at first you may think how and the heck am I going to remember all of this.....but you do retain enough to be alert to coins when walking a show. With so many references at your finger tips you can really score some nice finds.
I wouldn't knock anyone who likes filling holes in an album,but that's not my bag.
Yes there are a couple of series I enjoy collecting more than others,however when you walk a show and find a rare variety it's like finding a treasure .
No matter if it is the series you do collect or not.
I've done well, so we'll at times dealers do catch on.....so refrain from doing a happy dance until you're out of sight.
As you may ask a dealer to see a coin in their case ,and you may either pay through the nose,or be refused to purchase it.
Here's the best part you make finds that #1 you can flip or you make finds that you don't want to let go.
That's the hard part, as once you find something and then realize that OMG it's an R -5 or 6 very rare you don't want to part with your find.
If this sort of collecting excites you go for it .....as to me every show is a new hunt. Every show new finds,and rewards. If buying a new coin excites you just imagine buying one that you scored big on.
About a week ago a member here e mailed me, he asked a favor . He asked if I would look at a quarter he just won on ebay. I must say I was very pleased that he thought enough of me to ask my opinion . Long story short he scored big! He purchased a coin he liked for about $40. Under book. And then with a little research we discovered his investment was worth about $350. More than he paid.
Nice score eh?

 

Vam via Wikipedia, that's funny ain't it @SuperDave

 

Yes I will agree with your statement,however more and more people like myself and others like me are making up huge numbers in the demographics of variety collectors.
How many people you know are now looking at a 97 y/o dime now that just was discovered to be a ddo? A DDO that almost 100 years was spent, rolled up, sold as scrap,etc that just sold this month south of 10K?
Yes vams,varieties , cherry picking isn't for all collectors, but for those of us who dive deeper, it seems we find the pearls.

 

Found this, wow....you guys are REALLY looking at minute differences, breaks, strikes, etc. Impressive....most impressive, as Darth Vader (noted coin collector) once said !

http://www.coincommunity.com/us_morgan_peace_dollar_VAMs/what-is-a-vam.asp

 

Um, this is the fundamental baseline of coin varieties. You're making me think you don't know what a "variety" is. It takes two dies to create a coin, and collectors like to identify - by comparison to the others - which of those die pairs created the coin they're holding. That's why people like Al Overton (with Bust Halves) and Leroy Van Allen (with Morgans; his initials are the VA in VAM) devote their entire careers to identifying them within one series.

 

Right, I get that SD....I'm just wondering why it doesn't seem to be a focus at all on other coins I am somewhat (somewhat !) familiar with. Such as $20 Saints. Or $20 Libertys.

For all other coins, it's the condition of the coin.....the year....the mint mark....and maybe the date or striking information if it was a "7 over 8" thing or like that.

Just seems like the die specificity on Morgan's is unparalleled. I think that's what is surprising to me.

 

Ah. I apologize if that came out sounding condescending; I didn't like it when I reread it. The "7 over 8" thing you mention would be a "defining" attribute of that die pair. And, as I said above, that work has already been done for virtually every pre-1840 US coin. For many others, there has been some effort expended, but simply hasn't been enough manpower expended to completely codify things.

For the record, that link you posted about What Is A VAM? I wrote that.

 

Yup, He wrote that

And @GoldFinger1969, that wiki comment I made about your statement was sort of an inside joke with superdave. I was not making fun of you or anything like that if it came off that way

 

I'd never heard of the "broken R" before this thread.

Guess what? Both of my '79-S Morgans have this feature.

And both have the Reverse of 1978. So, maybe it's common on this variety?

 

Ehh... some dates are pretty rough. 1904-O, anyone?

 

For sure. My nemesis is 81s. It's one of my favorites as its my birthyear and it's the cali mint. Unfortunately though unless I'm really bored or up for a challenge I don't even vam them because there are soooo many and only 2 are list vams so I just look for either a long die crack on the eagle's breast or a large die chip on the wing. 04o is another but I tend to like trying them over the other tuffies. Actually 21's were in that category for me too but recently I've grown.to love being able to quickly vam them from the die cracks. A very unique feature not available with other years... I'm really starting to find the fun with 21 like @SuperDave (he loves the boogers)

 

You type pretty fast for a 134-year old.

 

"Common" is kinda relative for '79-S Rev '78; the number bandied about at VAMworls is something like 2% of 1879-S's struck were the 1878 Reverse. Of over 98,000 1879-S's in PCGS slabs (not counting PL's and DMPLs), fewer than 4,000 are Rev '78. One would expect them to be disproportionately represented in slabs, as Top 100 coins.

Not all of them have the broken "r."

 

I thought it was well-written !!

No offense taken on the other stuff, I know sometimes when you wade into the deep end you might go under a bit from lack of knowledge.

 

If either of those coins are in mint state you could be looking at a couple hundred dollars each, a gem bu books for $5k... It's sort of a big deal,as Dave mentioned