Not sure if this is too specific of a question for the forum. I mentioned in a few other notes that I am a very new collector. I picked up an 1878 8TF Morgan dollar that I cannot identify. I'm trying to determine the VAM number. I'm not too bad when there are only a few choices, but the 1878-P has hundreds of VAM varieties. It's an 8TF, the obverse has the raised designer's initial (type II/I), there are manually engraved feathers under the eagle's wings, and some doubling on the reverse. I've seen photos of other engraved wings, but can't match these. I in IN touching wing looks like an A1 reverse. Any ideas?
The reverse is an A1d reverse, which means it's either a very common coin (VAMs 6 and 7) or a very rare coin (VAMs 14.5, 14.8, 14.19). Look at Liberty's eye. If there is a small, vertical gouge hanging from Liberty's eyelid, it's a VAM 6. If not, look at the A in STATES. If there is a horizontal gouge through it, then turn the coin back over and look at Liberty's nostril. If it's overpolished (septum missing), it's a VAM 14.5. If it's not, you'll probably notice a lot of doubling on the obverse stars -- it's a VAM 7. If there's no gouge in the A, look in front of Liberty's eye. If there's a lumpy doubling of the eyelid below the eyelid and a few small die chips in front of the eye, it's a 14.8 (and a proof). If none of the above, then look for a die polishing line on the obverse from the bottom of the second cotton boll ("cupcake") going into the center of the adjacent leaf. This is a diagnostic of the VAM 14.19. Any of the rare ones are worth thousands in high circulated grades. John Baumgart
Thanks John. Sounds like a VAM 6. There is a tiny vertical gouge just below the eyelid (not touching it) and a small horizontal gouge directly above the eyelid. No overpolished nostril or line in the lower cotton ball. There's also a thin die crack from the E through the bottom of the left stars to the bottom of Liberty's neck to the middle of the 1.. .then through the bottom of 878 and over to the first couple of right stars. The photos in the VAM book for the VAM 6 reverse match exactly. The 7 in the date is doubled on the right though, not the left. I skipped over some varieties because I thought the raised initial meant it was a type II/I obverse. Still learning. Thanks again.
