Rob Joyce's VAM site "Explanation of the term VAM - Silver dollars are created by striking blank metal planchets with hardened dies containing the mirror image of the desired pattern. Through careful study, slight differences can be used to identify specific dies that created the coins. Sometimes these differences occur during the creation of the dies, other times they are caused by the maintenance or use of the dies. Extensive research on the variations in the dies used to strike silver dollars was published by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis. The term VAM comes from their initials. It centers on Morgan dollars minted by the United States from 1878 through 1921 and Peace Dollars issued from 1921 through 1935." Rob Joyce's VAM site ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VAM Update "Welcome to the VAM Update. This site is a direct extension of the large VAM book by Leroy Van Allen and George Mallis. This will be a work-in-progress for the near term but will ultimately be a site that is kept current to within a few months of discovery. Digital images were taken for coins 2001 and later, but prior to that time, the images were Polaroid and Silver halide. Thanks go out to Leroy Van Allen for his undying efforts to keep the book up to date and the links to where you can obtain hard copy of the VAM Update will be provided at the bottom of this page. Access to this page is intended to be for SSDC (Society of Silver Dollar Collectors) Members and will be restricted in the future. When the full functionality of the page is achieved, it will be linked to the VAMLINK site and restricted." GD's note - for now though, the page is open to all who wish to view it ! VAM Update ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VAM Link Currently they are rebuilding the web site and it has switched to a membership site. But for those interested in VAMs - this is THE site. VAM Link ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LET THE FEATHERS FALL WHERE THEY MAY #2 (Or, there ain't no such animal as an 8-TF Reverse either!!) - by Pete R. Bishal Known in the internet world as "Danutt", Pete Bishal is no longer with us. He passed away a couple of years ago, but he will always be remembered by those who knew him. He was without a doubt "da nut" - always ready to crack a joke and make ya smile. But at the same time highly respected in the numismatic community for his research and knowledge - in the opinion of more than a few it was unsurpassed. The following is an article written by Pete that many may find surprising and informative. Many, if not most of the links on the site are dead as is the email address - don't bother clicking on them. (Or, there ain't no such animal as an 8-TF Reverse either!!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VAM World "This site is devoted to Morgan and Peace dollar die varieties known as VAMs. It is open for all visitor to contribute, edit and improve. It will become a repository for all VAM knowledge if we choose to fill it. If you have information about VAMs or can help populate this site, please contribute!" VAM World ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
