Do VAM collectors pay for the VAM varieties??

Lakesammman

Or do they just try to cherrypick w/o paying for the variety??

How many VAM's do you own??

numobri

Lake,

I would rather cherrypick them but,

I have payed to get a VAM's before.(Hot Lips varietie).

Brian

TonedPeaceNut

Cherrypickin' is more challenging but some you will definitely have to pay for -- or trade extras for.

At least with the Peace $ Top50 its still much easier than the Morgans since theres still less interest in these.


TPN

Bochiman

Warning....if it isn't a strong and popular VAM, and you go to sell, you better hope you can sell to a fellow collector.
Most dealers won't pay much extra, if anything, for most VAMs.....saw that happen to a fellow board member last year.

Bochiman

<< <i>Warning....if it isn't a strong and popular VAM, and you go to sell, you better hope you can sell to a fellow collector.
Most dealers won't pay much extra, if anything, for most VAMs.....saw that happen to a fellow board member last year. >>



Edited to add: To answer question #2, I own 1 VAM slabbed (1882 O/S). I may own another VAM raw, but not sure.

numobri

Popular is good.

hamiltonjh

I have 1 for sure, maybe another 1 or 2, and paid non-VAM price..they came in a lot and the seller was unaware I gotta get the others checked out.

MAD4MORGANS

<< <i>Do VAM collectors pay for the VAM varieties?? >>



YES...I do!!

But sometimes they just buy Morgans and Peace Dollars and the VAMs happen to come with them!!

I think VAM collectors are like error and rare coin collectors.

The VAMs make collecting interesting because some are extremely rare, a challenge to find, and fun to "attribute".

Looking at perfect coins tends to get boring IMO.

jdsinva

My personal opinion is that is what is fun about VAMs, the thrill of the hunt and snatching up a coin for common money. Like some others, however, I have paid the premium to obtain an example of a VAM. Many of the well known (i.e. Redbook listed) VAMs are difficult to find unattributed and there are a handful of others that there just aren't many of them around. How many do I have? Well, with the 1878-S VAMs, I have nearly everyone listed in the 4th edition VAM book (missing a long nock or two) and a small number of 1878-S not listed in the book. I also dabble in all the 1878 varities as well as the Top 100, Hot 50 & Top 50.

Lakesammman

as well as the Top 100, Hot 50 & Top 50.

If I wanted to look only for the most interesting and obvious ones, should I stick with the red book, cherry pickers or buy the VAM book??

Rampage

<< <i>as well as the Top 100, Hot 50 & Top 50.

If I wanted to look only for the most interesting and obvious ones, should I stick with the red book, cherry pickers or buy the VAM book?? >>



My personal opinion is none of the above. I would stick with the Top 100, Hot 50 and Top 50 coins. That being said, there are also very intersting ones throughout that are not in any of those books. There are also plenty not in the books that have huge premiums. So, it is up to you, but for startes, I would go with the Top 100.

Rampage

And, as the aforementioned, I do prefer the thrill of the hunt. I recently cherried a VAM 2E 1922-P Peace dollar. Actually two of them. One EDS and one LDS. Both were bought for common money and the LDS is worth way much more.

But, I have paid premiums for some of the VAMS. The Donkey Tail comes to mind.

Lakesammman

Rampage - Why the LDS worth more - is it a die crack progression??

eyoung429

Hmm.....I haven't paid premium for any of mine..... I currently have about 25 different types and years..... bought them all raw, they are mostly circulated and 2 of them are even whizzed but it's really interesting to learn about the different marriages and I am now starting to work myself up to selling some of them off to continue my MS64 collection of Morgans. I have a good source for the circs...bought 35 raw and came out with over 25 vams in them

Peaceman

I only deal in Peace $ VAMs now... I can say that the market is getting bigger. I'd say 100% larger in the last 6 months... but that's not saying much because there are very few collectors out there, but it IS growing. Prices have been on the rise too about 30% higher in the last year as far as Peace $. I never pay a premium for any of the coins I aquire, although cherrypicking is getting a lot more difficult these days with all of the new players. I've dealt with all types of VAM's and have several MS/AU examples on the shelf.

Wolf359

Cherrypicking is a great way to save money on vams. When you want it, but can't find it, of course you pay for it. However, a number of vams are nearly impossible to find. Even at vam prices. The 1882-O/S early die state...a friend sold one in XF for a couple thousand dollars (no kidding). About 5 to 7 are known to exist. The buyer had to wait a couple of years for one to come on the market. Supply and demand rule with vams, as with anything else. I'll cherrypick 3-4-5 vams, then sell one to cover the cost. It works.

Wolf359

Yes, the best vams are in the Top 100, Hot 50, Top 50 books (and of course Fun with 1921-D Denver Morgans by Rob Joyce. Be aware
that 1921 Morgans (21-P, 21-S, 21-D) and many Peace dollars are still on the frontier. Literally. We don't know all the vams, and over 50
new ones have been discovered in 1921-D alone in the past couple of years.

TonedPeaceNut

Trust me -- cherrypicking VAMs can be very financially rewarding. It has been for me and I got to keep the highest graded coin and still made $5000 on a couple of coins purchased for $160 off Ebay.

Now I'm hooked and have already cherried a bunch from dealers @ the LB show. Now I just got to find buyers. Thats the interesting part for dealing in VAMs, but as Peaceman has said the market is growing.


TPN

jdsinva

I agree with many of the opinions expressed in this thread. After thinking a bit, I might add that some of the ones that I have paid a premium for are now worth more than what I paid for them. Something to think about.

Rampage

<< <i>Rampage - Why the LDS worth more - is it a die crack progression?? >>



Yes, it is die break progression. I actually have three states. An EDS, MDS and LDS. The EDS has the diagnostic die gouge and die crack on the obverse, but not the break on the reverse. The MDS has the diagnostic die crack and gouge on the obverse and a small portion of the die break on the reverse. The LDS has the diagnostic die crack and gouge on the obverse and the very large die break on the reverse.

The EDS and MDS coins I bought from my local shop for $10.00 each and both are circs XF to AU. The LDS I bought from my local shop, too. I looked throigh my records and it looks like I only paid $12.00 for that one. I would grade it MS62. I keep debating on grade with that oe, butit is at ANACS right now. I got a good deal on it, even if not for the VAM.

Rampage

Forgot to say, the coin I bought for $12.00 is now a $200.00 coin.

dcarr

Sometimes even varieties not listed in "VAM" books will bring a premium.
Like this one:
1923-D Peace Dollar "Spiked 1"

OKbustchaser

Dumb question from a bust half by Overton collector...

People keep asking is X Morgan is a VAM...Aren't ALL Morgans VAM's? They are all varieties of Morgan silver dollars. I understand that certain ones may be more exciting than others but don't they all have a number?

Jim

Wolf359

I understand that certain ones may be more exciting than others but don't they all have a number?

Yes, they do.

Edited to add: That's not a dumb question at all!

johnk

pick up a 1878 7tf for $90 sent in accross the st. came back ms61 vam-145 broken "num"

RobJoyce1921dVAMguy

Like many in this thread, I love to cherry pick vams at common prices. The thrill of the hunt is great and sometimes finacially rewarding. Big upside if you get a rare coin. Little downside if you are buying at common price for a variety feature. Even with the quantities I've cherried, I've paid for many vams. In fact, I've bought VAMs -above- VAM price guides when my research and experience shows that its not something I'm likely to find or find in a condition that's being offered. As with all numismatics, knowedge is king. Research your purchases and pay the right price for the right coin!

dwssws

I own a fairly high grade morgan collection and am finding myself drawn to the vam side of collecting. I have found a couple that are in the TOP 100 or Hot 50 and many others that not but conceivably could be finest known (or tied) examples of certain vams. Would this give the coins any premium or is all the value in the grade it has. Two examples: 1878 s NGC 67 vam 89
1900 o PCGS 67 vam 2a (polished wheat) which also has lines in eagles wing (3)
Have more but this gives examples. Are there any vams not in TOP 100 or HOT 50 that carry premiums or are they just interesting varieties. Thank you for any input.