VAM results in from ANACS, mixed bag of attributions

RVDavis

I sent in a dozen coins to ANACS recently, got them back Monday. I was not happy with the grades (see earlier post) but the VAMs are good. I thought folks might want to see what came out. One cleaned, the others graded AU 53-MS 63. The coins have been sent back to ANACS for review of the grades.

Wolf359

You've got some good vams in there. Can you tie the grades you received to the vams? Thanks.

RVDavis

I disagreed with the grades and after much discussion with ANACS and Anderson Press I have returned them for re-evaluation. Right now,
1878 VAM 17 is cleaned
1878 VAM 14.2 is AU 55
1884 O/S VAM 3 is MS 60
1884 O/S VAM 5 is AU 58
1896 VAM 4 is MS 63
1878 8 TF VAM 14 is AU 53
1884 S VAM 5 is AU 53
1878 7/8 TF VAM 38 is Cleaned/Scratched
1878 7 TF VAM 45 are MS 61 and MS 62
1878 7 TF VAM 170 is AU 53
1878 7/8 TF VAM 42 is MS 60.

The AU coins are all MS in my opinion with the exception of the 84 S. The strikes on those coins are weak, but luster remains. We will see what Wes Jacobs at ANACS has to say. The 1896 is minimally 64, with gorgeous tone. VAM 45 are 64 and 65. I grade according to a reference set of ANACS MS 60-65 and PCGS 60-65.

Wolf359

Not too bad, you should've seen some of mine!

It took me 7-8 submissions to ANACS to figure out what they look for. Luster, luster, luster. If it's not there, forget it. They really won't
go above MS63 unless the coin has full original mint luster.

Edited to add: I've had them re-grade coins too. I wish you luck, although I've managed to get a vam or two adjusted they will not
change grades.

RVDavis

I am not too hopeful but what the heck, give it a try. I have MS 65 Morgans (and VAMs) that I reference and if I cracked them out and sent them in, according to this submission, they would have come back as MS 61 or 62. Weak breast fethers and hair over the ear should affect grade but it is apparent to me that this grader took a quick glance, saw weak strike and said 'AU.' The two VAM 45 1878 coins are gorgeous and have 4"-6" measured mirrors, did not even get PL much less DMPL.

Wolf359

I've learned to write 'PL or DMPL' on my white stick-on labels on the flips. It's a reminder for the grader to
test it. For example my label looks like:

Coin #7 of 21
1878-S Morgan
VAM-6, Hot 50
DMPL

I do it with PCGS too. It seems to give better results!

I've also written "weak strike", etc....anything to prod them.

RVDavis

I put DMPL on the order form, not on the flip label. Lesson learned.