Does anyone know the VAM for this coin?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by brinssig, May 9, 2020.

  1. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    I have been unable to find the VAM for this coin on VAMWorld. Does anyone know the VAM number for this VAM?

    upload_2020-5-9_12-51-27.png

    upload_2020-5-9_12-51-51.png
     
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  3. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    I'm going to tag along with this post and add my question.

    Do all Morgan dollars have a VAM?
    I ask because I'm more familiar with IHC's and I know not all of them have a Snow variety.
     
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  4. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    The VAM tells you which die minted the coin. If a particular die has not been listed then it doesn't have a VAM number. It may be possible this coin has not been listed in VAMWorld.
     
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  5. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    All Morgan and Peace dollars are VAM's. Typically, VAM-1 is a normal die pair. I believe that John aka @messydesk can help you. He has a service to attribute all VAM's. ~ Chris
     
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  6. alurid

    alurid Well-Known Member

  7. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

  8. alurid

    alurid Well-Known Member

    When you find one that is similar, don't you still have too factor in Die Stage # ?
     
  9. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else Supporter

    looks like there is a dot on the tip of the eagles right wing you can try using the dot guide. it is for both reverses (16 berry or 17) but might get you closer
     
  10. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    Thanks for answering my VAM question.
    Snow varieties are only IHC coins that have some deviations caused when the the working dies were created.
    Lots of RPD's and mispositioned dates.
    I think such features as die cracks and die clashes were NOT included by Snow.
    Those are problems caused during the striking process.
     
  11. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    What are Snow varieties? What are IHC coins?
     
  12. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    To answer a few questions at once, all Morgans will have a VAM number, although some will have the number that means "normal dies." The coin pictured has some fine cracks that aren't shown on the 1921 D2 reverse, but that doesn't mean it's not listed in the VAM listings. The crack guides are maintained by assorted people and may not be completely up to date. I would have to see this coin to attribute it, as it is likely attributable by the "scribbling scratches", for which there is a guide on VAMWorld. All VAMs listed on VAMWorld have to first be added to the VAM catalog by Leroy Van Allen.
     
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  13. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    IHC are Indian Head Cents
    Snow varieties are to IHC's as VAM is to Morgans.
     
  14. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    With the exception that Snow does not attempt to catalog every die, only those with interesting-enough varieties.
     
  15. kanga

    kanga 65 Year Collector

    Yep.
    And when you compare production numbers it's easy to understand why.
     
  16. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    That and average state of preservation.
     
  17. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    Is it possible the coin could be a common VAM such as VAM 1 and still have die cracks on it?
     
  18. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    Yes. Die cracks alone don't get cataloged in the VAM listings, although they can be used as fingerprints to confirm a match with a cataloged variety. Heavier die breaks do get their own listing, usually as a die stage of an existing listing.
     
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  19. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    How much would it cost to have a dollar coin attributed by Varslab? Is the holder sealed shut like the holders by NGC or PCGS or do they easily come apart?
     
  20. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    $6 a coin plus shipping, handling, and insurance. Submission forms are at my website (http://varslab.com/vssub.pdf). The holder is not sealed shut. The photo on the label is of the coin in the holder, so that acts as a safeguard against the coin being switched.
     
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  21. brinssig

    brinssig Active Member

    Approximately how much would the postage and handing cost to send in 5 coins to be certified? About $8 each way sending in the coins and coming back? If there is no printer to print out the forms can the forms still be used if they are hand-written?
     
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