1879-S possible VAM

I just got a new handheld microscope to examine and photograph my coins and a used Cannon D60 from eBay to do macro photography. Wow - what an obsessive learning curve. I ran across this coin during a photo shoot. At first, the condition caught my eye - a possible DPML. While photographing it, I took notice of the date. Then I began to go down a rabbit hole of endless photos.

I am starting with the Date Numeral, and what I saw. I will continue to update posts; there are many unusual anomalies that I am unfamiliar with.

This has been a most enjoyable Easter egg hunt, and I am hoping to learn a lot from this. Comments welcome.

 

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All Morgan dollars and Peace dollars are VAM's. It is a study of die attribution and die stages. Try to find yours http://vamworld.com/wiki/1879-S_VAMs

 

Looks like the leaves on the left side of the wreath had been acid treated .
http://vamworld.com/wiki/1879-S_Acid_Treated_Dies

 

Here's the guide
http://vamworld.com/wiki/1879-S_Acid_Leaf_guide

 

I am just learning about the acid-treated die arena with Morgans. There are so many VAM attributes on my coins, all from other years, or mints. Aside from the acid-treated characteristics, I am not finding any of the artifacts that I am seeing on this coin.

 

The higher the magnification on a coin, on any coin, the more anomalies you will see.

 

His is true. But I am looking for VAMS, not errors, or a market photo op.

 

You are looking for A VAM and its listed attributes that matches your coin. The die marriage and die life stage is what the VAM study is. There will be something on the coin that relates to the listed VAM number and then a quantity of pick up points to verify it. A die gouge, distinctive die polishing lines or die gauges etc. You should also verify the PUPs on both obverse and reverse. Until you are used to the process, it is sometimes neccesary to go through each one till you find yours.

 

Thanks. That's what I have been doing... one by one. Whew!