PCGS moving ahead with VAM plans

DennisH

Talked to David Hall today and he gave me some very exciting news he said I could share:

PCGS has hired Mike Faraone, previously with ANACS, to be a key part of the new Morgan VAM attribution efforts at PCGS -- which still have not been announced but will apparently commence in 2005.

Sorry I don't have more details.

wam98

Smart move for PCGS.

fivecents

Excellent
Thanks for the heads up.

kieferscoins

Great news!

Cameron Kiefer

coinkat

That is big news... Mike went to PCGS

JrGMan2004

anablep

That says a lot about ANACS if PCGS is hiring one of their's...

jdsinva

ANACS better finish with my VAMs first that they are currently grading!

Jeff

SDCollector

Says something about the VAM segment of the hobby. Good news.

Wolf359

For those that missed it on Christmas Eve (like me, lol)

RVDavis

Bill

You echoed my initial though at this news. VAM collecting just keeps growing. Should have kept that darned 44. Argh.

Rick

RVDavis

By the way, I need some help with an 1896 VAM. I posted a note with pictures last night. Can't figure this one out. I emailed Leroy, but I don't think the coin is a VAM 4. Philadelphia mint, all stars doubled. Unlike the VAM 4, no doubling in the date. Unlike the 4, the UNUM are all doubled. Ver strong doubling on the stars. Any ideas?

alergar

Any idea how Dave is going to do this. Will he be expanding the Varieties set or will PCGS create a new VAM sub-set. Maybe we should run a poll.

SDCollector

Rick,

Are you a member of SSDC? If so, you may want to ask if it can be posted in the next VAM-E newsletter. Also from what I've heard, LeRoy Van Allen is very gracious with his time and he will definitely attribute your coin. I've never sent him any, but if you don't get any response around here or from SSDC, then I would send it to him.

P.S. Nice icon.

RVDavis

Bill yeah I stole that form somebody; don't know how to do an icon myself did I committ an unpardonable sin? I looked for a geek icon but nowhere to be seen

I used to be a member of SSDC let it lapse. I sent Jeff an email recnetly about rejoining, have not heard back. Leroy sent me a reply, doesn't know what I have. Sure is an interesting coin though.

Rick

DennisH

Alergar:

Since PCGS has said darn little about what they're going to do, we are left to speculate/guess/hope/dream about increased VAM attributions and Registry Sets. But one thought I keep reminding myself about is, Mike Faraone is VERY knowledgeable about VAMs in general. Thus, it makes no sense to me to have him attribute just a few of them. Here are my other thoughts:

1. There are 5 varieties currently attributed by PCGS (and have been for quite a while) that are not yet part of the "With Varieities" Registry Set -- 1882-O/S Weak, 1888-O Scar Face, 1896 Micro-O, 1899 Micro-O, and 1900 Micro-O. I hope these coins finally will be added in... they should be.

2. At one of the 'Trade & Grade' special events in Las Vegas earlier this year David Hall said PCGS will begin attributing many more VAMS "including the entire Top 100." Since the Top 100 is a well-known Morgan sub-set and has been for years, I'd be surprised if PCGS did not start a new Top 100 Registry Set.

3. The word "including" in Hall's statement is exciting because it implies there will be more VAMs attributed than just the Top 100. I hope that means the Hot 50 as well. If PCGS does start attributing the Hot 50, then a new Hot 50 Registry Set also makes sense.

Peaceman

I knew he was going to PCGS a few weeks ago when he told me he was moving to CA....

Finally..... Thanks David.

SDCollector

<< <i>Bill yeah I stole that form somebody; don't know how to do an icon myself did I committ an unpardonable sin? >>


No problem. I'm flattered. It's was my coin (now sold) and one of my first coin pics. I'm glad you're using it.

I recommend you rejoin SSDC. Ash and many others are doing of good job of getting the club up and running again.

Sounds like you should send the coin to LeRoy for a new VAM attribution. Congrats.

keets

PCGS lags far behind as far as what insert information they'll offer in the way of variety and attribution. on a side note, i'd be curious to hear exactly how they can address a thing like this while failing to address the slow turnaround issue, since both would seem to require additional personnel. should the limited VAM community be given precedence over submissions as a whole??

evidentally the answer is yes. i see this as a bad example of placing the cart before the horse, adding a problem while failing to solve the problem as it already exists.

al h.

SDCollector

It's a mystery to me how ANACS can make any money attributing VAM numbers to Morgans. In order for it to be profitable, I assume they have to assign a VAM number in about 30 seconds to a minute per coin. I've never done it in less than an hour!

RVDavis

thanks. It is most gracious of you to permit me to use your icon. Nice coin.

On this VAM stuff, the dealer who sold me the roll is now regretting it a bit. I may trade him back a few of these and get a couple more rolls. Gotta love coin collecting.

I will get back into SSDC.

Rick

jdsinva

<< <i>It's a mystery to me how ANACS can make any money attributing VAM numbers to Morgans. In order for it to be profitable, I assume they have to assign a VAM number in about 30 seconds to a minute per coin. I've never done it in less than an hour! >>



Most of the popular ones (Top 100, Hot 50, Top 50) are well documented with specific die markers that make the attribution fairly straight forward. Now the other VAMs may take a bit of head scratching but I'm sure looking at them day in and day out, even a certain number of those become easily recognized.

Jeff

Peaceman

I don't know Keets.... at least they have one more grader there now... I do not think they'll limit him to just VAM's. He'll be grading coins just like the rest of them. More graders should = faster turnaround times......