PMD chip, lamination, something else? The mark is circled in red. If it a lamination issue, does that warrant a grade deduction or a novelty with a premium?
Difficult to tell but from the photo I’d say it’s a small lamination error. It should not affect the grade. No reverse photo was posted so I can’t say if it’s worth grading or not.
I'm seeing lately that VAMS have lost their demand on a whole. I also was told by an ANACS rep last year that that ship left port a few years ago. I still like to collect the top pops in the raw when I can find them. But personally when it's just minutia and some random VAM, I don't seek them out. When they are so obscure it's not fun anyway, at least not for me.
I’m not a van collector either. I have some varieties but I don’t seek them out. The 1878 can range from $30 to $200 or more depending on the variety. The obverse is very nice looking so definitely a higher grade coin.
Minor strikethroughs, or laminations do not hold much of a premium. My guess is that the flaw on the obverse would bring down the eye appeal with a grader. Lower grade is my guess.
You just addressed what I was worried about. Not sure I care if it's a mint flaw/error/whatever, but wondered if it would decrease the potential grade.
If it doesn't bring down the grade, it would still make it harder to resell. I'd look for another one. Unless there is a rare VAM there, finding others should be easy.
I'll see how the bidding goes, if it's really low I might snag it, but I'm not chasing it either. Thanks everyone.
Outside of that tiny spot it's a great looking coin. Looks like some kind of lamination issue but hard to say without at least some different angles of view. I'd buy that for the right price though... she's still gorgeous! Curious about the reverse though, like everyone else here most likely.
I'll post it after the auction ends if I can remember to. The reverse is not quite as nice as the obverse, but it isn't bad.
Well I won it, probably paid about what it's worth, it cost me a Ben Franklin. No guts, no glory. I just liked the luster. It has a swipe on the reverse that bothers me, but no matter. I still wanted it.
I'd be happy to have that in my collection, it's a really nice looking coin! And I'd giver her "the old colonoscopy" and put her under my scope to check out that little spot on the obverse lol! I swear that thing falls just short of seeing different atoms. But I digress... that's a great looking coin you've won. As long as you like it, that's all that really matters!