Picked up this toned NGC MS-63 1888-S and was going over it looking for any VAM identifications or major die cracks and it appears to be a VAM-2 minus a couple of the attributes shown on the VAM site. No chip over the eagle's head but the die polish lines are there on the reverse, the 8s look the same to me. Not sure about the 1 as the toning makes it hard to see some features clearly and the way it is tones there is a strange what I would call "ghost" effect on the bottom of or top of letters, etc around the rim side of the coin as you can see on the numbers. So check out my pics and let me know what you think. Going to have to split the pics into two postings. Thanks!!
Thanks, Chris. Learned something new. But still waiting for someone to chime in on whether this would be a VAM-2.
I believe you to be correct. The chip off the Eagle's head and the reverse die crack through the E would be a later die state than your example. A very nice example at that!
