After reading threads by FreakyGarrett and Toad, concerning VAMs, I had this 1884-cc Morgan sitting on the desk and decided to take a closer look at. Lo and behold, it has these little spiky things on the date, and a die line or something through the wing. Anyway, according to Vamworld, it's a 4-A, spiked date, pinned wing! Cool! I have no idea if it's rare, but it's an unexpected find that I wouldn't have made if I didn't frequent this forum. I have a photo of the date, but not of the pinned wing, it didn't show up too well.
Very Nice! I'm not 100% sure but check the E in AMERICA it looks like it has a die break. If so it's the VAM 4B.
There is a die crack that pretty much runs all the way around the reverse lettering. A second crack starts at the top left corner of the E and goes to the rim.I also see a sort of little "cap" on top of the upper left corner of the E. Is that what you mean? Thanks for the help, I am a Vamateur.
Here's the link to VAM world VAMworld » 1884-CC VAM-4B I can't tell from the pics but your coin looks like it has the die break like in the picture. The 4B will also have the spiked date, and the pinned wing, like in the 4A.
You guys are good! It is the 4-B- looks just like the Vamworld photo. I didn't look hard enough. A couple of years ago, when I started collecting, I bought the 82-83-84 CC's as a group from one of the multi-page CoinWorld advertisers and sent them in to ICG (based in Colo. at that time) and this one graded MS-63, which I think is accurate. I think this is about the only time I bought from one of those sellers that the BU coins weren't AU sliders, LOL. I guess I'll enjoy it even more now, it was a pretty enough coin to begin with. Thanks for the help, this is a great forum!(Raider34- you lived up to your tagline!)
lol no problem sparrow, do you plan on sending it in to get authenticated? I've been trying to find a value for it but couldn't really find any auctions.
I don't know if I'll send it in or not. What I may do is wait until I go to a large show and take it to one of the TPG tables to see if I can get the VAM on the label. I hate standing in line at the post office!
Cool finds! I wonder what the % of non-VAM coins versus VAM ones is? Will Morgan dollars go the route of early coppers -- and all coins will have a "variety" associated with them? Just wondering....Mike
I wouldn't be very suprised if the percents were pretty close. lol it seems like every morgan I see these days is a VAM.
Every Morgan or Peace IS a VAM. A VAM is a die marriage of a particular obverse die and a specific reverse die. Every Morgan and Peace will be a certain VAM, however many will be very common or some say "normal dies" and not worth a premium, whereas others will be very distinctive and scarce and worth more than the "normal die VAM". Jim
That said, having a VAM # on a slab label is almost certain to bring a premium as many have no idea of the value and tend to overestimate on common VAMs. Jim
