I got Morgan VAM grades! (Economy in 72 days)

DennisH

Somehow it just figures.

This morning I'd written a clever little essay filled with symbolism, lament and metaphor about slow grading times, Juan Valdez on his quest, dead donkeys, and the black hole that is Sealing & Verification... and then went off to visit a coin shop without posting it. So what do I find when I return home this afternoon? Grades are posted!! Here's what I got (all coins were sent in raw via Economy service):

LINE # CERT # COIN DATE DENOMINATION VARIETY COUNTRY GRADE

1 21810315 1878 8TF S$1 USA XF45
VAM 14.10 Bonnet Crack. Bought this raw as an AU50, which is what I thought it would grade.

2 21810316 1886-O S$1 USA AU50
VAM 1A E-reverse. Bought this raw as an AU50, which is what I thought it would grade.

3 21810317 1878-S S$1 USA AU50
VAM 57 Long Nock. Bought as an ANACS AU53; I thought it would grade AU50.

4 21810318 1878 7TF S$1 Reverse of 1879 USA AU55
VAM 220 Tripled-R. Bought as an ANACS AU55; I thought it would grade AU53.

5 21810319 1880-O S$1 USA AU58
VAM 6 Hangnail. Bought as an NGC AU58; I thought it would grade AU58.

6 21810320 1878 7TF S$1 Reverse of 1878 USA AU58
VAM 115 Tripled blossoms. Bought as an NGC AU58; I thought it would grade AU58.

7 21810321 1878-CC S$1 USA MS62
VAM 6 DDO. Bought as an ANACS MS61; I thought it would grade MS61.

8 21810322 1897 S$1 USA MS63
VAM 6A Pitted Reverse. Bought as an ANACS MS61; I thought it would grade MS62.

9 21810323 1897 S$1 USA MS62
VAM 6A Pitted Reverse. Bought as an NGC MS62; I thought it would grade MS62.

10 21810324 1897 S$1 USA MS63
VAM 6A Pitted Reverse. Bought as an ANACS MS63; I thought it would grade MS63.

11 21810325 1882-O S$1 USA MS64
VAM 7 O/O. Bought as an ANACS MS64; I thought it would grade MS64.

The 2-point upgrade on the 1897 VAM 6A (a "so what?" coin at these grades) is amusing, but not much el$e. Getting the Long Nock to go AU is a home run in my book, and the Tripled-R is extra bases at least. The upgrade on the '78-CC is... well, funny because I paid less than MS60 Grey Sheet bid for it on eBay, including shipping. I guess the flash dip I gave it helped brighten up the eye appeal even more than I thought.

jdsinva

Excellent group of VAMs!

I take it they're unattributed on the holder?

DennisH

Jeff:

Correct... unattributed in the holder. (Got to make SURE my wife knows where my inventory/attribution list is just in case!)

CalGold

Was the 78-s long nock in an ANACS VAM holder?

What do you think its worth?

CG

DennisH

CalGold:

Yes... ANACS had it holdered as "VAM 57 Long Nock Top 100". As for value, the last Top 100 Value Guide I saw from Michael Fey said AU50s are worth $750. Personally, I think he's low by a fair amount.

coinkat

nice results

Nocerino18

What did you mean by flash dip? Does anyone know?

DennisH

Flash dip means in and out in about a second or two. And in my case it means diluting the solution down to 1:3.

DorkGirl

Are you getting ready for the PCGS VAM registry? If they aren't attributed, do they have to be reholdered with the attribution? Just wondering.....

wam98

Nice haul Dennis.

DennisH

DorkGirl:

Yes, I'm getting ready for the VAM Registry -- and I really hope it comes one of these days! Yeah, I'll have to send them in again for variety attribution, but I'm sure PCGS won't mind taking my money. In the meantime, they're in PCGS holders and anyone who is "in" to VAMs will be able to verify what they are.

TUMUSS

IS PCGS FINALLY attributing VAM'S????

BigE

TUMUSS, I think they are going to in the future. Great job DennisH!--------------BigE

RAD

Did you crack them all out or were they true cross-overs???? I assume you cracked the one you dipped!!!!

DennisH

RAD:

Everything was cracked out and sent in raw.

RAD

have you had any experience with true cross-overs?? I'm trying to decide whether to "crack or cross"......

DennisH

Rad:

I've had LOTS of experience doing both (Morgans only!). I am now at the point where:

1. If I think a coin has a legitimate chance of going up, I aways crack it out.

2. If I have no doubt the coin is problem-free, I always crack it out.

3. If I think the coin is "on the line" to dropping down to the next grade, and such a drop would mean a big hit in terms of dollars, I never crack it out.

4. If I have any suspicions that the coin may be cleaned or otherwise have a problem, I never crack it out.

The bottom line here is, you have to be pretty confident in your grading abilities because the downside risk can be nasty.

RAD

Very sound advice.............thanks!

Wolf359

Nice job on finding the vams and grades Dennis. You're certainly one of the best collector/graders in here, I'd expect your VAM registry set to be really top notch!

DennisH

Jack:

Many thanks for the kind words, but I honestly feel like I'm only a VAM Little Leaguer. Two of my buddies are VAM Big Leagers for sure, and I'm aware of another fellow who is at least in their league.

If there's anything I'm doing right, though, it's locating coins that I can get into PCGS holders. That's actually not an easy thing to do -- as a lot of folks will discover if and when PCGS starts attributing VAMs.