Morgan VAM quiz -- look what I just cherrypicked!

DennisH

This little jewel just arrived in today's mail. Bought it off eBay using Buy It Now for $3 over Grey Sheet (non-VAM) Ask.

Can you identify the date by attributing the VAM? All your clues are right here on the obverse.

DorkGirl

Is it a 10 O near date with bar? That would make it a 1890-O. I love these threads!!

jdsinva

Nice Hot 50 Coin!

Jeff

DennisH

Here's THE hint:

Wolf359

Nice score Dennis. 63/64?

Vet

1890 o commet die gouge to right of date only one listed in top 50.

DennisH

Bingo!

It is indeed an 1890-O VAM 10 "Comet"; a late-ish die state example by virtue of the 'soft' and slightly short "tail" streaks.

Found this on eBay Sunday night, offered by a dealer sometimes discussed on the boards, who obviously didn't notice what it was. But I'd been looking for one for a while and jumped all over his $95 BIN.

Much to my even greedier joy, it's also a VERY nice coin -- blast white and lustrous as a bandit, better than average strike, very few marks, and terriffic eye appeal. Don't think I'd disagree and sound like I meant it if it was in a 64 holder, but as a PCGS MS63 it's a hugely PQ coin.

K6AZ

Uh oh, does this mean you won't be bidding on this one?

DennisH

Eric:

Doesn't mean that at all... I think I bought this before I saw yours, and I'm still a bidder on yours!

K6AZ

I know Dennis, I wasn't being serious. I know some guys who have dozens of these circulated.

jdsinva

I've bought 3-4 off of Heritage/Teletrade in the past 2-3 months. Most of them, however, seem to be LDS. I had one in a PCI slab back a couple of years ago that actually had squared-off ridges where the gouges were. It looked like a mini set of stairs! That was back when you could buy MS63 1890-O coins on eBay all day long for $50-$60. Stupid me sold it on eBay and then it got conveniently lost by the USPS so that no one (legally) has it now.

Dennis, is yours smoothed down or does it have the ridges?

Thanks,

Jeff

Wolf359

I had one in a PCI slab back a couple of years ago that actually had squared-off ridges where the gouges were

Yeah, I passed on a Heritage P63 for $110 a while back. Too many marks. But I'd love to own an EDS comet

jdsinva

Yeah, I'd like to have back that EDS. That was back when I was still fairly new to VAMs and only the 2nd comet I had ever encountered. I didn't realize how rare it was. Talk about bonehead move of the year!

Jeff

K6AZ

Jeff, do you still have the NGC 63 you bought from me a couple years ago? While that wasn't a very EDS, it is certainly earlier than the one I have up on eBay. I had another NGC 63 (in fact it was from the same submission as the one you bought) and it went wild on eBay a few months later. I knew about the comet on the first one, but I had no idea they brought any kind of premium.

DennisH

Mine is also an LDS coin... it's obviously a Comet, but it doesn't have any 'spikeyness' to the tails. Darn it. Ah well... the hunt continues.

ibzman350

nice find..


Herb

jdsinva

Hi Eric,

Yes, I still have the one you sold me. Yours was the third one I have ever bought. I have several of them now and it's probably time to thin them out. I don't know why they sell so strongly but the few times I've sold them as comets, they've sold fairly strong. They're just a popular coin I suppose.

Jeff

K6AZ

I wish I had known that prior to listing the one you bought. The second one I listed as a comet, and it sold for $205. I was shocked, I had no idea it would bring that much.