For Example: a 1878 Morgan 8TF VAM-12 ??? What exactly does the VAM-12 mean? I know its a Die difference, is there a way to find out more detail on this? Does the VAM attribute take away value, add value or not make any difference??? How would you find out its value??? And how many of that varieation there are? I looked in my ""Red Book"" and it shows the 1878 Morgan 8TF, but no mention of the VAM-12, same with the Whitman Official Red Book, "Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars", no mention of anything VAM related...
There's a lot to learn about VAMs, but in a nutshell it's a variety of a Morgan dollar of a given date and mint. It can add value sometimes - and not sometimes. It just depends. But you can learn about them at these places. VAM-E Newsletter VAM Link VAMSlab
I never have figured out exactly what VAM stands for. I know it basically stands for Variety of Morgans but what is the A for? I never have been able to figure that one out. Better idea would be to have a location for all coin abreviatioins similar to one of the for information threads at the top of each forum. So many new and lots of us old people would like to know where to go to find out all the terms and abbreviations used by many of the members here.
VAM is an acronym made from the initials of the 2 authors who wrote the definitive work on Morgan die varieties, Leroy Van Allen and George Mallis. I use this link first when I don't understand a term or abbreviation that I read here. If that doesn't work then i try google. So far this has worked well for me.
So I finally got this coin (1878 Morgan 8TF VAM-12) and I have another 1878 and I can not tell the difference in them... I read the links above and they were not alot of help... Some, but not enough... In doing some searching, I've read that VAM 12 means something about a Split Star??? I looked at all the Stars on the coin; there are 6 on one side and 7 on the other... None look Split or deformed.. Looks just like my other 1878... I also read somewhere that VAM 12 mean something about an Aligater eye??? I looked at the eye of this coin, it looks like any other Morgan eye... What should I be looking at and seeing???
Every date has it's own set of VAM numbers. A VAM 12 for the 1878 means that it has some doubled letters (bottom of E, PL-RIB and S) and that some of the stars and numbers in the date are doubled. It is an R-4. But a VAM 12 for any other date will not be the same thing. You have to have a magnifing glass to see most of these, and have to train yourself to see them, it's not easy at first, but will get easier the more you look. An "Alligator Eye" is an 1887, not a 1878. Here is a closeup of what you will see..... There are 1000's of VAMs, more being found every day. The only ones that are worth any real premium are the Top 100's, Hot 50's, and the Super CD's. If you are at all interested in them, you must buy a "Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars" by Leroy Van Allen and George Mallis. It's a wonderful book that has way more information in it than just VAMs.
Thanks for the info.... I took another look at my ""VAM 12" comparing it to another same year non VAM and another year non VAM, I don't see any difference in any of the letters, stars or anything front and back... I'm starting to wonder if either this thing was mis-graded or if I need an electron microsocope... Either way, I going to get me a copy of that book you mentioned... I already checked the local coin stores and they don't have it...
