What's the grade? And, what's the VAM?

RVDavis

I have a couple of these that are pretty much duplicates. 1878 P; I read them as VAM 45. Doubled eagle's leg, doubled olive branch above the tail feathers. Die polishing marks in the feathers. The pictures are one of the two coins.

I got Dr. Fey's Top 100 book today and think these are both VAM 45. They are very nice coins; the obverse in photo number 4 is much nicer than the photo. There are small bag marks on Liberty's cheek. This particular coin has a gorgeous half moon irridescent dark blue tone; mixed with gold.

So opinions on grade, and on VAM attribution? I had no idea these guys were Top 100 coins. If the coins grade high enough I guess they are worth submitting, with Fall Top 100 giving $400 in MS 63 and $600 in MS 64.

Rick

RVDavis

I forgot to mention, prooflike fields on both of these coins.

Wolf359

Looks like VAM-45. It's an underappreciated vam, considering it's rarity. And congrats on a nice one! I'd slab it with ANACS, but that's just me.

DennisH

VAM 45 is a tougher coin. If it was mine, I'd wait and see what PCGS decides to do about VAMs sometime this year.

jdsinva

<< <i>Looks like VAM-45. It's an underappreciated vam, considering it's rarity. And congrats on a nice one! I'd slab it with ANACS, but that's just me. >>



I just had mine slabbed by ANACS (MS62), although they didn't give me the PL designation.

Good find, Rick!

Jeff

RVDavis

Thanks Dennis and Jeff

Rampage

Very nice coin Rick. Congratulations on the find.

RVDavis

What I find funny is for some years (6, 7 8?) I have been buying Morgans when I run across them in flea markets or garage sales or antique shops. I try to get 1878 P because that is what I used to enjoy. Last two months, I have been going through all of these coins and have made some interesting finds. I have probably had these two VAM 45 coins for years, just had them put away. Kind of like getting a few rolls of coins at a dealer and having fun looking through them. Nice to the see the sort of appreciation Morgans and especially VAMs have made in the last decade. This is what makes collecting fun, at least for me. The fact that some of the coins are worth nice money (at least to me) is not the big deal. Got to love collecting don't ya?

Rick