quick question about R values in relations to VAM's

jbsteven

anyone know either where I can find or the rarity numbers for VAM's and which was is rare, high number like 6?

example 1878 S ms 65 Morgan VAM 2 Broken R has a r value of R-2. I assume this is a fairly common VAM but want to confirm. I have read what the values are but cannot find them. Is the table on R value in the Highfill Morgan book?

thanks

coinkat

Check the Encyclopedia of Morgan Dollars and Peace Dollars. I think the book is in either the third or possibly fourth edition. The book should be inprint and available.

jbsteven

coinkat, i have the book just having a hard time finding it

Gilbert

jbsteven

The rarity of Morgan dollars is listed in the VAM Book. The rarity of the Top100 and Hot50 Morgan dollars is supplemented in those respective books, although only varieties discovered since publishing of the VAM Book will change. Mike Fey publishes a Top 100 Insights Newsletter which periodically includes a Value Guide, but most of the rarity info is as I posted. If you have specific requests, I can help you, but the list of updates (for the new discoveries) is fairly extensive to list.

jbsteven

gilbert

does this one have extra value?

1878 S ms 65 Morgan VAM 2 Broken R

Gilbert

Well, the Vam2 is not on the Top100 or Hot50 list of so-called collectible" die varieties - not my terminology, so I would say ordinarily there is no premium associated.

The '78-S varieties that are on the list: B1 reverse (long nock) on the Top100 and Vams 2 & 6 on the Hot50. Those have doubled mottos.

hughesm1

The latest <i>Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopaedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars</i>, the "VAM Book" is the fourth edition (to the best of my knowledge.) It was released in 1997. Since then, several new varieties have been documented; of which most can be found at Vamlink.com though there aren't any pictures. It is my belief that the rarity ratings listed in the current VAM book are inaccurate, due to the growing popularity of "vamming" and previously unattributed specimens that have been slabbed.

Mark

hughesm1

TTT

Gilbert

It is my belief that the rarity ratings listed in the current VAM book are inaccurate, due to the growing popularity of "vamming" and previously unattributed specimens that have been slabbed.


Hughesm1,

What would you suggest be used then?

hughesm1

<< <i>What would you suggest be used then? >>



One would continue to use the R ratings.

I'm merely pointing out that the ratings more than likely are inaccurate due to the amount of time elapsed since the current edition (4th) of the VAM book was released. The only way the R ratings would be totally accurate is if all surviving dollars were attributed and accounted for in the ratings. Since we both know that is unlikely to happen, we are left to go by assumptions of how many specimens of a particular die variety survive.

Using the ratings published in the current VAM book and taking into account the natural growth in collectors now attributing their dollars, we may conclude (with good probability) that the ratings published in the 4th edition are one number too high on a good 50% of known varieties. Yes there will be exceptions; some varieties may be off by two, while others may be accurate as listed.

I draw this as a parallelism to what I've noticed with Bust Halves. From the 1970 edition of Early Half Dollar Die Varieties by Al Overton to the 1990 revised edition, I noticed R ratings revised downward on approximately 15% of the varieties.

I am not a member of any organisation that delves into Morgans, so I don't have any "inside information." However, I feel confident in my calculations under the premise of Morgans being a more widely collected series and one that more collectors specialise in than Bust Halves.

Gilbert

Well,

I tried to point out that updates are constantly being worked when new discoveries are attributed. I have an updated list up thru 2002 and it includes R values. So , my point is that one doesn't need to rely on the '97 figures in the Vam Book.

If there is a particular variety someone wants to inquire about, I am more than willing to provide what I have. If one wants there own documentation, I can point you to at least to my sources.

Beyond that, then, there is the somewhat less than current VamBook.