Is this a nick or a VAM???

Mike921

I have seen this called a belly button but wasn't sure if it is a VAM or not. Or is it nothing more than a nick? It is on a 1889-P.

Thanks, Mike


Reverse


Closeup

littlewicher

Looks to be just a nick, the only top 100 VAM listed for the 1889-P are VAMS 19A, 22, AKA "Bar Wing Variety." The VAM 22 has a far date, and VAM 19A has the normal date. Both have the same reverse. Hope that helps.

Cam40

reference link

Mike921

Thanks, Littlewicher

I have been meaning to get a book on these just haven't done it yet.

Mike921

Thanks, for that link Cam that will be very useful!!!

Cam40

No prob. I think its really our duty to educate all our fellow coin collectors when we can.There are many great sites on the web to help one gain knowledge on about anything they,re looking for.
It really helps to have others to post these helpful sites here.That and `guess the grade` threads to hone our grading skills.
I thought of making a thread asking everyone to list their best coin-related sites for everone else to check out too.Or ..`What coin sites are in your web browsers address bar`.That would be fun huh.

Mike921

Yea, that would be pretty interesting and very informational. I was looking through some of the prices on the coins they have and they are pretty reasonable. Also, my brother has the 1889-O with the chip at the first eight and I didn't know they were so rare in BU, now only if his was BU it's more like AU.

Thanks again,
Mike

Gilbert

Is this a nick or a VAM???

Similar depression as the "belly button" variety, but that is what it is, a depression resulting from a weak strike (insufficient metal flow.) The "belly button"variety is most frequently found on "O" minted "C" reverses, but does include "P" minted coins:

'85-O
'87-O
'90-P
'91-P
'00-O
'01-O
'02-O

BTW, - a "VAM" number is assigned to ALL documented die marriages; I guess you wanted to know if it was one of the "Top100" or "Hot50" collectible varieties, some of which are selected based on rarity and some based on oddity.

Cam40

Cool.Thanks Gilbert.He was right.He has a `belly-button` variety.Maybe not in the top 100 of the rarer VAMs but it is a recogniized variety nonetheless.
I didnt know what I was looking at myself.I thought it must be form a damaged die or a spot where the metal didnt flow from the strike.So,I guess I,m right too? Damaged die?

Dog97

It doesn't look like a belly button to me but rather a hit or maybe a strike thru of some sort but I'm not dismissing that it might be.