VAM help Morgan 1878-S

Goldminers

I don't collect Morgans, but I was going through a handful I had received from a relative's estate. It probably would benefit from acetone, but I left it alone for these photos. I see there are over 100 VAM versions, so need help with identifying this one. The star close up shows a flaw, another has an indentation, and the denticles vary around the edge.

LanceNewmanOCC

this is where you start:

http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1878-S_B2_Varieties

http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/4th_Right_Star_Broken_R_in_trust_Broken_Mint_Mark_Location

broken/unbroken 4th Star and R in trust.

gumby1234

I'm not going to research it. The only 1878 S VAM's that I'm aware of that bring nice premiums are the long nock VAM's. The coin pictured is not a long nock variety.

Namvet69

I encourage you to take the VAM journey. The pups are the clues to zero in on your coin. Good luck. Peace Roy

PapiNE

Start with the 4th right star broken. These VAMs include 1C, 1D1, 1D2, 41, and 94 at quick glance. Go to VAMWORLD to narrow it down further.

cheezhed

VAM aside the coin has been harshly cleaned.

Goldminers

Thank you. I am looking at all the data. If the coin was in better shape, it would be easier. Broken star, G seems open, the r has residual triangle, the P and B not broken both have little bumps, S-mint mark filled, can't tell eye gouge or engraved feathers. I think these are not easy to figure out, but I do appreciate the effort that others have done to allow studying these more than I did before.

LanceNewmanOCC

the first and last years are pretty much the hardest to vam 78, 79, 04, 21.

i didn't see any major vams pop out on the 78-s from the pics, so i just posted the links. if it is a sleeper, it will probably take a specialist to sniff it out unless someone spends a LOT of time doing a process by elimination.

also use the mm position and if that is a die chip behind the eye, that should narrow it down in a hurry. there is almost no way on earth if that is a die chip, it wouldn't be mentioned on a page somewhere. the years mentioned above (and others) have been EXHAUSTIVELY studied.

if you get nowhere here or on your own, post those pics at vamworld and you'll get your answer.

Lew

Check VAM-45

gumby1234

not a 45

Goldminers

Thank you all. I know this one is beat up and not worth much more effort, but I have learned a lot. Now I can go back and look at some older MS63's and 64's I have somewhere to see if anything pops up.

PapiNE

That's a broken r. Rather common for that year but helps narrow it down. Try VAM 40, 45, or 64

blaircountycoin

vam 74. Broken R and 4th star mangled.

LanceNewmanOCC

@blaircountycoin said:
vam 74. Broken R and 4th star mangled.

looks like 74 is a TIUST.

messydesk

@gumby1234 said:
not a 45

Yes, it is.

LanceNewmanOCC

@Goldminers said:
Thank you all. I know this one is beat up and not worth much more effort, but I have learned a lot. Now I can go back and look at some older MS63's and 64's I have somewhere to see if anything pops up.

it may not matter because of the cleaning but the 45 is a top 30 78-s coin.

and though the obv is shared with 3 other vams (as listed on the page) the other 2 are more than different enough to nail this to the 45. see those face chips in all their glory and of course a neat die used later on in 1879.

Goldminers

Any advice as to what to do with this? Is it worth sending into PCGS for the variety designation even if it comes back slabbed as details grade 92?

cheezhed

No not worth it.

LanceNewmanOCC

@Goldminers said:
Any advice as to what to do with this? Is it worth sending into PCGS for the variety designation even if it comes back slabbed as details grade 92?

ya, most likely not. the biggest vam set collectors are very particular about straight-graded examples, usually a few exceptions for terribly rare, valuable, desireable ones.

if it were mine, since i don't know it off the top of my head, i'd do a little research but most likely not a sub-worthy coin.

messydesk

@Goldminers said:
Any advice as to what to do with this? Is it worth sending into PCGS for the variety designation even if it comes back slabbed as details grade 92?

PCGS won't designate this variety. Only ANACS and I will.

Goldminers

@messydesk said:

@Goldminers said:
Any advice as to what to do with this? Is it worth sending into PCGS for the variety designation even if it comes back slabbed as details grade 92?

PCGS won't designate this variety. Only ANACS and I will.

Email sent. Thanks.

LanceNewmanOCC

@Goldminers said:

@messydesk said:

@Goldminers said:
Any advice as to what to do with this? Is it worth sending into PCGS for the variety designation even if it comes back slabbed as details grade 92?

PCGS won't designate this variety. Only ANACS and I will.

Email sent. Thanks.

don't forget about VSS !!

gumby1234

@messydesk. My bad. I clicked on 44 by accident. Stupid phone.

LanceNewmanOCC

@gumby1234 said:
@messydesk. My bad. I clicked on 44 by accident. Stupid phone.

you deserve some sort of minor award. i've surfed VW on a phone and it ain't easy! mostly due to size of fingertip compared to links. usually have to zoom in each time which gets a bit cumbersome!

gumby1234

@LanceNewmanOCC Yes its the fat finger syndrome. Along with eyesight that isn't what it used to be. I could nail many VAM's without a loupe back in the day. Now a loupe is the only way I can see them.

messydesk

The MediaWiki framework is responsive to being used on mobile devices to a certain degree. Text is enlarged to be legible, but the left side navigation bar and tables aren't. I believe it's also "skinnable" with personal CSS styles, but that requires you to have an account and log in. I could put investigating this on my to-do list, but I'm going to need more paper first to extend the length of my list.

gumby1234

@Lew said:
Check VAM-45

You are correct. I looked at the wrong VAM.