So I went to an antique show today and went through the coin area. While I was looking at a display a dealer asked if I wanted to buy this 1878 Morgan Dollar. He handed me the coin and said he picked it up yesterday for $70. He broke out the Cherry Pickers guide and had me look at the VAM in the book and see if it was the one he thought it was. I took out my glass and looked over the coin and sure enough, a VAM 44! The feathers were 7/5, the liberty was doubled and the cotton balls were doubled. The book states only 12 are known to exist. The last one according to the book sold as an AU50 for $10k. I would have to guess the one he had was a strong 63 or weak 64. I offered him $100 and a laugh, he laughed back It's amazing what comes into these shows!
There are well over 12 known, and is definitely one I'd want to see with my own eyes before believing it, but other than the $70 for a 63/64 for a non-variety, it's a nice story.
The cotton bolls and leaves are supposed to be tripled. Also, VW states that there are about 70 known. I'm guessing that the CPG has never been updated. Chris
