20 VAM Discovery Coins Back From ANACS

VamGuy

I submitted a group of 20 original VAM discovery coins to ANACS during FUN on January 5th with specific instructions to hold the coins until the new slabs were ready. The coins arrived here on March 9th.

First I would like to say that I could not be happier with the design, style, shape & feel of their new slabs. The large font used on the grade is perhaps a bit too large for some, but has already grown on me. I have noticed that the black ink is easily smeared when they handle the label too soon after printing, especially on the barcode area.

Of major concern to me is the process used to seal the slabs. I intentionally dropped one of them onto my tile floor at a height of 3 feet while the slab was in a small ziplock plastic bag. The slab split open at the seam. The coin & label can now be easily removed with no actual evidence of tampering. Sorry ANACS, but this is a HUGE problem.

8 of the 20 coins that I had submitted were cracked out of NGC plastic and submitted to ANACS raw. Every coin came back at the exact same grade.

1884-O NGC - ANACS MS64
1888-P NGC - ANACS MS64
1898-O NGC - ANACS MS64
1899-O NGC - ANACS MS64
1902-O NGC - ANACS MS63
1903-P NGC - ANACS MS63
1923-P NGC - ANACS MS63
1923-P NGC - ANACS MS63

All in all I'm pleased with the new slabs, but the problems I've identified above should have been corrected in the R&D phase, not after the release.

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In comparison, On Nov. 17th 2005, I sent 7 VAM discovery coins to PCGS for VAM Discovery Coin labeling & reholdering (the coins were already PCGS graded). I submitted these coins with the original paperwork from Leroy Van Allen based ON THIS Q&A SESSION with David Hall. I even included a printed copy of the Q&A session and the HTTP address for verification. My credit card was promptly charged.

The coins arrived back here on January 4th. I opened the box to find all of my original VAM discovery papers, the submission paperwork, and all 7 of my coins still in their original PCGS slabs with no change. The coins were not attributed as discovery pieces, the coins were not even reholdered (still had the old green label). They were returned in the exact condition that I had sent them. There was no note, no explanation, no refund, nothing. Just my coins & paperwork.

I immediately assumed this was a simple mistake. As luck would have it, I was driving up to Orlando to attend FUN the very next day. I brought the entire box with me, just as I had received it. I arrived at FUN and headed straight to the PCGS booth. After a lengthy discussion, I was eventually told by a representative that my discoveries are not important enough, per management. Then it took a month of begging to get a refund, which I eventually received less the S&H fees.

The evidence should speak for itself.

MAD4MORGANS

Sorry to hear that. Maybe they will only deal with the TOP-100 VAMs?

I think I might send some of mine in to Messydesk for a VAMslab©

He attributes them AND no one can argue with his grading!!

A top tier grading company is important if your trying to sell them but since I hoard mine (haven't sold a coin yet), at least my heirs will know what they are when they inherit them (or someone else digs them up in my back yard).

dwssws

<< <i>A top tier grading company is important if your trying to sell them but since I hoard mine (haven't sold a coin yet), at least my heirs will know what they are when they inherit them (or someone else digs them up in my back yard). >>



is your favorite spot to bury them still 6 paces NE of the driver's side tire of the Nova

IrishMike

Not a newsflash, PCGS is hardly all things to all people aka as collectors. The company was originated to cater to dealers and not much has changed. Whether their marketing plan is prescient or not time will tell.

MAD4MORGANS

<< <i>

<< <i>A top tier grading company is important if your trying to sell them but since I hoard mine (haven't sold a coin yet), at least my heirs will know what they are when they inherit them (or someone else digs them up in my back yard). >>



is your favorite spot to bury them still 6 paces NE of the driver's side tire of the Nova >>



I'll leave you the VAM treasure map in my will.

joeyuk

I hope you forgot the after AND no one can argue with his grading!!
I asked John for opinions on grades but he said he only attributes and
slabs them. Thus no one can argue?

nesvt

VamGuy, thanks for the info... though the ease of opening the slab is disturbing. My last discovery coins are in these new slabs. The black ink is smeared on some of the lettering and all the barcodes.

That's an impressive amount of discovery coins!

MAD4MORGANS, I thought you drove a Pacer, not a Nova? Let me know when the VAM treasure map goes up on eBay. I hope you have a BIN.

messydesk

<< <i>

Sorry to hear that. Maybe they will only deal with the TOP-100 VAMs?

I think I might send some of mine in to Messydesk for a VAMslab© >>


Hey, that sounds like a good idea!


<< <i>He attributes them AND no one can argue with his grading!! >>


That's all part of my "no grade" guarantee. I guarantee I will put no grade on the holders.

messydesk

<< <i>The coins arrived back here on January 4th. I opened the box to find all of my original VAM discovery papers, the submission paperwork, and all 7 of my coins still in their original PCGS slabs with no change. The coins were not attributed as discovery pieces, the coins were not even reholdered (still had the old green label). They were returned in the exact condition that I had sent them. There was no note, no explanation, no refund, nothing. Just my coins & paperwork. >>


At the risk of incurring the wrath of the commercial content police, here's a picture of a VAMSeal'ed TPG slab from my Ancilliary Products Division. Discovery coins would be annotated as they are on the VAMSlabs. Costs are the same.