I am having trouble verifying an 1878s dollar as a VAM 19B. A coin dealer looked at the coin with a microscope but was unable to detect the clashed letters on the front of the coin. Is there any other way to determine if the coin is a VAM 19B other than the clashed letters on the front? Is there much of a difference in the price between the VAM 19A and VAM 19B? The coin looks like it is either semi-proof-like or proof-like on the front and there appears to be extensive polishing lines on front of the coin. Perhaps the clashed letters were erased from all of the die polishing? The die clash in front of the neck appears to have been shortened from die polishing.
The problem with die clashes on many Morgan dollars is that they tend to disappear after the dies have been in use for a while. That is because the clash occurs when the die is cold and so they are not hardened into the steel.
I assumed the die clash in front of the neck was shortened from die polishing but maybe you are right it could be worn away.
The only one I could find with a broken r in trust is as follows http://vamworld.com/wiki/1878-S_VAM-2 @messydesk @jgrinz
Both the VAM 19A and 19B have the broken R. "Like the VAM 19A, the 'r' in 'trust' has been polished down so the arm is almost completely gone." http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1878-S_VAM-19B
If the clashed letters can't be seen, it's VAM 19A. It's unclear to me as to when and how the clashed letters appeared and disappeared. They may have been polished off or they may have worn off. The extensive polishing on the reverse of VAMs 19A and 19B seems to indicate they were partially polished off after the first clash, then wore off later. Polishing lines also fade with die wear, so those above the cap may not be present on later die stages. However it happened, the premium on VAM 19B is the same as 19A and 19 -- small. The problem with these really weak clashes is that there's a big gray area regarding whether they're there or not. On lustrous coins like this, my test is whether or not it'll show up on a photo I take for a label. On circulated or darker coins, it's more complicated.
Since verifying the coin as a VAM19B can be rather iffy are there that many that come back from Varslab certified as a VAM 19B?
5 VAM 19Bs, including the discovery coin, since 2013, 22 VAM 19As since then, 10 VAM 19s. So the clash is weak and short-lived.
Does the VAM 19A have the visible clash in front of the neck? The seller is telling me Varslab would confirm the coin as VAM 19B because there is a die clash visible in front of the neck.
This is one of those VAM's that I love! However, I think it is a 19A due to the lack of clash as @messydesk has said. I also agree as there wouldn't be much of a premium difference if any between a 19A or 19B. If people are interested in it, it's for what the VAM is famous for, the large die gouge in Liberty's cap. I say if you like it, buy it.
Maybe my eyes playing tricks on me but I think the clash in front of the neck is visible in this photo though only way to say for sure is to look at the coin in hand . I can not see good enough to see if the s is there behind the hair . Sometimes looking at the coin straight on may not show all the details and you have to look for clashing at a angle . If you don’t want to take a chance id buy it I need 19a and b
I know Messydesk is Varslab. So I guess the die clash coming from the neck isn't an indicator of whether the coin is a VAM 19A or 19B. I would assume it is on both the VAM 19A and VAM19B?
The wing edge clash can be present without the letter there. If I can take a picture of a clashed letter on that coin, I'd label it VAM 19B, but I can't tell from the picture if I'd be able to.
How much would it cost to send a coin to Varslab that has already been graded by a grading service and is in its own holder? Would I have to use the official form on the internet for the company? I don't own a printer and the library from which I could print out the form is closed because of the corona virus.
I was just on the web site for Varslab and there is an expiration date of 12/31/20 on the submission form. Can the online form still be used?
You can still use the form. I have an expiration date in case I need to adjust pricing for shipping, which I did for the first time in over 10 years last year. I will probably just change the expiration date this year. If you aren't able to print it, you could download the PDF, open it in Acrobat Reader and use the "Fill & Sign" tool to fill it out, save it, and e-mail it to me, then just a note in your package with payment. Worst case, just hand write the relevant information you'd put on the form and send that. The prices are the same whether you send a raw coin or one in a TPG holder.
