Wanted to try to figure out VAMs for a few of my Morgans for no reason other than it kind of looks like fun to figure these out. Started with this 1887 which I thought would be easy with the die cracks the way they are, especially the one under the date. The only one I could find that was close to that was the 13A but that doesn't look like a dead ringer, am I on the right track? Is it maybe one that's just not listed? Any help would be appreciated! Looks like something should be in this area if it was the 13A they have a picture of it on vamworld:
Without telling you which one it is (not 13a) I'll help you find it. Click on the date position link at the top of the 87p page. Then go down the "normal date position" list. Start with the first and go down the list checking the full coin pics to find a match of the crack at the date on obv and the one going from the L to wreath on the reverse then report back. You should find it quite easily.
You would think so but it definitely took me going through them all twice again before seeing it for some reason lol I know I need glasses but my goodness. It's a VAM-10 and if that's wrong then I vow to never attempt to find another VAM again! Thanks for the guidance, going to practice with some others tonight.
And keep in mind, VAMs are typically describing single die pairs. The cracks, where they match - your example may have more or less of those cracks, being an earlier or later die state - must be exact. You are correct. Thinking further, where does the die state of yours lie in the progression? The cracks are fully developed, yet yours does not seem to show the clashing artifacts. Did the clash happen late in the run, after the cracks developed, or did it happen earlier and yours is much later in the run when the artifacts had worn off the dies? Looking at the crack on yours between UM of UNUM, I'm inclined to think the latter because none of the examples shown at or linked from VAMworld have it.
Some general advice: Date position only comes into play from 1884-1904. Mint mark position is helpful for most years. While this implies that 1878-1883 Philadelphia coins are harder, 1878 has been studied for a long time and has the best information. 1880 and 1883 have also been studied closely, but are more difficult. Don't bother trying your 1881 or 1882 unless there is obvious repunching on the date or other major die anomaly. Beware of strike/machine/ejection doubling, especially with 1880-S through 82-S. The fresher the die, the sharper the design, the easier it is to see doubling on the date and close to the rim. Don't start in on 1921, as it can be far more overwhelming than other dates. Start by taking a look at the Top 100 and Hot 50 varieties, because they show how lots of major anomalies manifest themselves. These lists were created to focus people on the more significant varieties, and just about everything on these lists is pretty easy to attribute. The payoff in doing this comes in many forms. First, you may actually find a rare, valuable die pair. Thanks to the definition of rare, this is unlikely for any given coin, but becomes more and more likely the more coins you look through. Second, you may get simple pleasure out of solving a puzzle which can be difficult to solve, much as someone would from solving a hard sudoku or crossword. Third, you may observe things that make it more easy for you to understand how dies are made, used, and wear out. Fourth, you will be immunizing yourself against buying counterfeits. I guess I could go on and on about this, but everyone is different in what they enjoy about aspects the hobby, and attributing Morgan dollars and collecting die varieties or die marriages is no different. Feel free to ask more questions here or on VAMWorld. In order to post on VAMWorld, your request to join needs to be approved by the NSA Cyber-security Czar (I'm not kidding -- really), so it won't be instantaneous.
Thanks Dave/Messydesk for taking the time to write out those detailed replies, helps a lot! I'm officially into VAMs. Not necessarily collecting them but like you mentioned it's kind of like solving a puzzle which I like (Kakuro>Sudoku for the record, but it never gets any love from people).
Practicing on a few others. Think I got lucky and found this one right away. Anyone who enjoys vamming feel free to chime in if I got it (and others to come) right. Thanks! This one is an 83-CC PL. I have it as a VAM 7. Arrived there from the die crack through the 1 on the obverse then the crack in the wing on the reverse.
Alright! Although I quickly got overwhelmed when my next attempt was a 1900-O. I got some work to do with that one
It actually is the former VAM-7 that got sucked into the VAM-5 series of events. Probably a VAM-5C at this point in time...
VAMing is great mental exercise, but often difficult to grasp. Get involved and don't give up. It takes practice and you are hearing from some of the best here.
Probably the best advice i can give you is dont get discouraged. You cant vam them ALL....Even the best of the best dont have a .1000 batting average...You win some, you lose some, but you live to fight another day.....
