What the heck is the "VAM" term on Morgans???

AtcBob

Okay Morgan guru's, I'm looking for information on the term VAM, I have seen many variety's for Morgan's, but I don't have a clue what it means???

Thanks in advance

Dog97

It's a combination of 2 guys name, Leroy VanAllen & George Mallis. They attributed die pairings for every Peace & Morgan Dollar known and assigned it a number.

FC57Coins

VAM stands for Van Allen/Mallis - the authors of the Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars, which lists every known die variety, error, etc. in those two series. Each of the varieties is assigned a VAM number by year of issue.

Frank

AtcBob

Okay, I have a VAM-15 Morgan, what does that tell me?

FC57Coins

What year is it?

Endocrinologist

This is an informative link on VAMs VAMLINK

Dog97

You have the 15 th die pairing attribution for that year and date.

AtcBob

I actually have 2:
An 1884-O VAM-15
An 1887 VAM-1

Does certain VAM's add value to Morgans for certain dates?

FC57Coins

VAM 15 is the O/O right. This is not a significant variant and it boils down to basically a repunched mint mark. VAM1 on the 1887 is actually the "normal" die pairing for that year. The big kahuna that year is the VAM 2 which is the 1887/6.

coinkat

Yes. There are certain VAMs that sell for significant premiums. Here are some examples: 1888-O Scarface, 1888-O double die obverse known as Hotlips, 1901 Shifted eagle which has reverse doubling, micro "O" mintmarks for the 1896-O as well as 1899-O,1900-O and 1902-O. The higher the grade the more expensive they become. There are many others including the ones from 1878 that would take too much time to explain. Check out the link that was previously provided in this thread. Have fun looking...

AtcBob

Thanks guys! Man, sounds like I have a lifetime of learning to do in my short time I have left on this earth....

FC57Coins

<< <i>sounds like I have a lifetime of learning to do in my short time I have left on this earth.... >>



But think of all the fun you'll have!

AtcBob

Man, I'll tell ya, my son and I are going to the show in Atlanta in the morning. He is getting into it also. He's 7. The joy of sharing something like this with him is outta this world!

Yep, I'm addicted.....

MrKelso

<< <i>Man, I'll tell ya, my son and I are going to the show in Atlanta in the morning. He is getting into it also. He's 7. The joy of sharing something like this with him is outta this world!

Yep, I'm addicted..... >>



Thats what it's all about