All, Wondering if I am seeing double or if this is from a repunch on the date. I do not have a VAM guide, would anyone happen to know the variety of this 188-s Morgan? is there any premium attached to the variety? Thanks GL
You don't need a VAM guide, so now is your time to learn. The VAMWorld site is all that you need. It is important to remember that there may be additional markers that can help to identify the correct VAM, and since you have the coin in hand, it is easier for you to make the determination. Here are the listings for the 1881-S. If you need more help, let us know. http://www.vamworld.com/1881-S+VAMs Chris
I'm just getting in from shopping with the wife and this is what I think I do some looking up in vam world for you ....
My guess would be machine doubling or maybe ejection doubling. If it's in the die it's a discovery piece...
Also it could possibly be pullaway thats being enhanced by a light dark tone. Much better pics are needed
Thanks All. I'm not really sure what to make of it. I cant find a similar photo on VAMworld that shows the doubling of the 1881. I am not sure I have the camera hardware to take better pictures than already posted. I'm thinking as others mentioned, it may be an machine or ejection doubling issue. The reverse shows no doubling at all. The coin is DMPL, maybe the obverse was double struck to bring up the detail?
You really dont want to start with.an 81s as your first coin to vam. For only $6 plus shipping to and from you can have @messydesk attribute it and put it in an intercept slab with his label and attribution. If he thinks it's a new vam he'll let you know how to have it listed. Go to www.varslab.com and have a look. You can contact him here or through his website. I'm an intermediate level vammer and I don't even try to attribute an 81s unless im.up for a challenge
There are two 1881-S that are worth a premium. Fortunately, both are easy to identify. VAM 1B has a large die chip on the eagle's right (viewer's left) wing. VAM 54B has a die break on the reverse from the eagle's neck all the way down to the D in DOLLAR and into the rim. As for determining the VAM number for any 1881-S, it is possible, but as mentioned, not an easy date to attribute. The main reason for this is nasty machine doubling on the date, which is a huge problem for 81-S. Unfortunately, most 81-S are attributed by the date (some by the mint mark, which is where I'd start if not VAM 1B or 54B), and often the machine doubling obscures any repunching. Just one correction I wanted to make to Cascade's post. The slabs I use are the Coin World PCGS-sized slabs, not Intercept slabs.
I just came across one (1881-S) that has what looks like die damage one the 88 and machine doubling on the reverse “Dollar” as well as the S mint mark.
