Hey everyone, I was just wondering if anyone could help me out with this Morgan. I know it's at least a VAM 34...but I was wondering if it's possibly a much rarer VAM-34B...here's the pictures.... And here's the VAM World site for this variety http://vamworld.wikispaces.com/1879-S+VAM-34B
It is really kind of hard to make out any possible polishing marks to the right of the Designer's Initials but it looks like everything else is there! If you can get some even closer and in focus pictures of the area to the right of the Designer's Initials and the polishing makrs are there, then you can jump up and down and say Whooopie!
It is kind of hard to tell for sure without the coin in hand but there appears to be some polishing marks to the right of the Designer's Initials and the Designer's Initials are stronger which should indicate that this area of the Die was polished. You might hold off and see if nesvt gives the geen light before jumping up and down and hollering Whooopie.
Don't wait for me. My eyes are horrible and my glasses are like coke bottles. I'm still squinting trying to tell if it's a Morgan or not! I know your coin is circulated, but can you see the dot on the cap? or the line coming off the cotton leaf?There are a few 79-S coins with an engraved wing feather and partial or broken R in TRUST. Does the wing feather match the VAM 34 in the VAM Book?
Don't be sad. Maybe the attributes are just worn. Maybe it's an even rarer variety. Are you sure it's a 34? I am terrible with 78's and 79's. Too many varieties. Matching the engraved wing feather on these is tough for me.
Um....I'm pretty sure it is....the top of the r in trust is completely gone.....I'm starting to think I just need to send these coins into ANACS ...lol
Are you using the Top 100 book to attribute your coins? Do you have the VAM book? There are MANY 1879-S coins with partial or broken r's. If you don't want to spend the fees at ANACS, there is another solution. Check out varslab. John has more VAM knowledge in one finger than I have in my head. I believe GDJMSP knows him too. At $5 a coin (plus S&H), you get a great service (attribution and holdered).
John is the guy to go with!---I've known him through the internet for a few years now through WINS and he ahs helped me with a VAM or two that I needed help with! Speedy
Nesvt: Okay, I give up, I have never heard of this service, could you give us more info? And is this anothe rgrading/slabbing alphabet soup serivce? Or is he only for VAM's? Also, what if you have a coin already slabbed by, say, PCGS?
varslab provides variety attribution services for Morgan and Peace dollars. It's run by John Baumgart (messydesk on this board). John is the Vice President of the SSDC (Society of Silver Dollar Collectors). John is a master VAMmer. The coins are not graded. He identifies the variety, photographs the key attribute, and encapsulates it a Coin World holder (showing the variety and photo). Last I checked, it was only $5 a coin (plus S&H). It's a great service if you want your coins attributed and protected in a plastic holder. What if the coin is already in a PCGS holder? And the VAM is not identified? I'd try to determine the variety through printed/online resources or post images on a forum. If it's something that PCGS recognizes, they provide a variety review service and will re-holder with the VAM number. The fee is less than the original PCGS grading fee (seeing it's already graded). If it's not a VAM that PCGS recognizes, I'd put a sticker on it with the VAM number. EDITED TO ADD: If your coin is in a PCGS holder and you can't figure out the VAM, I think you can still send it to varslab for identification. It would remain in the PCGS holder and you'd just be using the attribution service.
