I need help ith cherry pickers :)

Ok well Chriss yours blows mine out of the water tbh, but for a camera that cost me $20 how can i complain?

 

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No, you don't really need a stereomicroscope, but it sure does come in handy when you're half blind like me.

I'm not 100% sure that your 1884 is a VAM-9. Granted, it is a "Far Date", but I also can't rely 100% on the comments added to the listings on VAMWorld, though I'd rather not say why.

Chris

 

Well considering its a "very far date" as is the VAM-9 would and that the VAM-9 is the only very far right date for the 1884, yet it has none of the other markings like certain die cracks or a dot in the ear, would that mean this should be classified as a all new VAM?

I am new to the whole VAM thing, so not sure how the hierarchy works in ruling on new VAMs gos. So your thoughts are most welcome Chris.

As for being blind its ok, I can not see things much more then a few hundred yards away. But on the bright side it makes my up close vision quite good so coins are ez to see

 

Okay, let's start with the easiest part first. There is only one person who authenticates new varieties, and that is Leroy Van Allen. In case you didn't know, he is one of the co-authors of the "VAM Bible", the Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars. VAM is an acronym for the authors, Van Allen & A. George Mallis.

He charges $5 (plus return shipping) to attribute existing varieties, but if he authenticates it as a new variety, the $5 fee is refunded. When submiting to him, you have to explain thoroughly what you see on your coin. He is far too busy to examine every aspect of each coin that is submitted to him.

Now, here is where it gets tricky. You mentioned die cracks, but most often, die cracks are used primarily to determine the die state, early (EDS), mid (MDS) and late (LDS). A die crack must be pretty severe, as in the case of the 1888-O VAM-1B "Scarface" to warrant attribution in, and of, itself. They are usually not employed as markers for a specific VAM because they can change from one strike to the next. Things like die gouges, raised metal (like the dot on the "8" and the ear for the VAM-9), polishing lines, etc. can be used because they usually don't change for a given die state.

Whether or not Leroy would consider yours a new variety, I can't say because (obviously) I do not have the coin in hand. It is mentioned in the VAM listing that there are numerous die pairs which have the very far date, so he might just classify it as an existing variety or he could possibly assign it a new VAM such as VAM-9A (or whatever).

Chris

 

Oh well although it is at least a different variety from the 2 ive seen if not a completely different VAM no real point in me sending it off to potentially get banged up by USPS .

Are certain VAM worth a lot of money in comparison with the same coin of a "normal" die?

 

Absolutely!

The 1878 8TF VAM-9, the first Morgan struck, is worth $6-8K in low MS grades; the 1878 8TF VAM-14.11 is worth $5-16K in grades from VF to MS60; the 1882-O VAM-4 EDS is worth $4-12K in grades from VF to MS61. There are many, many more!

Chris

 

from the looks of it mine are worth :foot-mouth: