Hi All, Could you help me grading this coin? Recently, I bought one 1899 Morgan Silver Dollar and received it yesterday. What my surprise when I took a look and saw a lot of VAM over all around of the coin, and there are VAMs on the observe and reverse. I have saw coins with one or two different VAMs, but none as my coin. Could you tell me what is the grade to this coin and if a lot of VAMs will increase the grade? I tried to upload the better pictures I could take. I hope you can see the die cracks
First, and I mean this with total respect, you really need to learn what a VAM is and means. http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/VAM_and_Coin_FAQ Yes, I understand the link looks suspect, but it is to the VAMworld FAQ page.
I apologize for wrong explanation i wrote on the question. I'd just like to know what was the grade and if the die cracks had influence on the grade of the coin. I just thought that the same coin could has more than one different die cracks and in consequence, more than one VAMs. I don't care about the increase of value on that coin. She's beautiful to me and it's enough. Sorry by my poor and very limited english.
You owe no apologies, sir. My hope was only to help you learn and with no offense intended. Said cracks should have no influence on the grade although select VAMs (varieties) can carry premiums depending on popularity and demand. Welcome to the forum.
I'm not offended, but thankful for your help. I've learned more about coins errors that will make my coin analysis be better in future.
Understood. I can take look later today if you'd like, but perhaps @messydesk or @Dave Waterstraat can offer you some tips or advice? They're much more familiar than I in this area.
Yes, I will apreciate your analysis and your conclusion. But i prefer do not inquire they about it. They must to feel free to offer (or not) tips or advices in this thread.
I'm at work as well. If I have time during my lunch break I'll take a look and give you some tips on how to attribute (VAM) 1899-O. Welcome to CT!.
The first step in VAMming 1899-O is confirming the mint mark type. There were regular "medium" sized mint marks and small round mint marks known as "micro o". Your example is a medium mint mark. The next step is the date position, measured in relationship of the tip of the bust to the left side of the base of the 1 measured against the denticles making yours a normal date position. Mint mark location is next with yours appearing to be set high and slightly left of center. Looking through the listings based on these diagnostics I came across VAM34A which appears to have the same crack patterns on the reverse but your example does not have the die break on the 3rd left star so I believe your Morgan to be a VAM-34 in the transition stage having the small die break on the letter T in UNITED. See attached link for die crack locations.http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1899-O_VAM-34A
If I understood, the fact of the die break line be major than the line classified on VAM 34A doesn't mean this is a new class of VAM but a transition of the same VAM. I say it because on the picture pb130014, the die break line goes from the third star on left till "P" of pluribus. It is so hard to see because the picture is not so good to show it.
It is what I call a tweener, slightly more than a plain (fresh die with no die cracks at all) VAM-34 but missing required features to be a classified as VAM-34A therefore VAM-34 unless @messydesk has a differing opinion.
This is being an important lesson to me. I'm really learn with you here. besides that, everyone that will visit this thread will have the knowledge to make your own analysis.