Sometimes it is better to just be lucky! Big VAM photos

RobJoyce1921dVAMguy

Mid February, I bid on a 1878-S PCGS MS-65 dollar because I saw some cool clashes on the eye. These clashes are a key to identifying some of the long nocks and other 1878 coins so I thought I'd take a chance on an interesting eye (knowing it wasn't an long nock but hoping it was something cool) so I chased the auction.

Heritage Auction Link



Turns out the eye clashes were not quite as wild as I thought from the heritage photo but they are not bad:
When I got the coin and turned it over, there were wild die gouges on the reverse. It was a VAM-15. Wow. I didn't notice the gouges on the heritage photos (but they are there in retrospect). Here's some pics of the coin.







Wish I could say I bought it as a VAM-15. If you like this one, be sure to look for

VAM-18 Spaghetti Wing
VAM-36 Dragon Scales

I think VAM-18 is the toughest of the 3 based on my personal cherry picking. Very cool VAMs!

Rob
(edited to fix VAM-18 link)

Coxe

Nice, Rob. I got a VAM-15 (PCGS 64) a year ago and love the variety. Just won a VAM-19 tonight on Teletrade, another kinda neat one but not a flambuoyant as the VAM-15 and certainly not as cool as a VAM-18 (which I too have been seeking for a long time too).

ibzman350

Pleasant surprise, huh ??.............

Nice find and great pics Rob.




Herb

DennisH

Rob:

What a NEAT coin! Thanks for sharing and, as always, great photography!!

dbldie55

Those are some super detailed images.

eyoung429

Very nice ones Rob!!!!!!

I will be posting a few kills that I did this weekend when they arrive.

morgannut2

That's amazing--I can't see a thing on the Heritage picture--nice pick!

Peaceman

Nice pickup. Glad to see it was something after all.

nesvt

Great gouges! Nice looking coin. Congrats Rob!

MAD4MORGANS

That is one SWEET coin!!

dwssws

that is a nice coin! happily my 78 s is vam 15 also

RobJoyce1921dVAMguy

Thanks guys. This one is definitely a keeper! Several VAM-15s appeared in this thread. So who has VAM-18 and VAM-36 coins? I know Wolfe has an 18. Who else? I think that one is a MAJOR sleeper and a very cool VAM.

Rob

Coxe

No 18 or 36 here. I am light on 1878-S. The ones I have are 2, 6, 15, 16, 17, 17A, 19, 24, 30, 56, 57, 59, with several dupes of some, and one possible undocumented variety.