1878 VAM 44 value. Anyone have recent Insights?

RVDavis

I have to renew my subscription to Michael Fey's Top 100 quarterly price guide. Does anyone have recent sales values on the King in AU and mint states? I got curious this morning and can't find a value more recent than WInter 2006.

Thanks

Coxe

If you are in the SSDC and they have an email address (for VAM-e), you should get VAMView. Two 44A pieces sold last November: and ANACS 53 for $6,500 and a very well discussed sale on eBay of a PCGS MS61 for $10,200. You apparently have 2006 sales, which would be more recent.

RVDavis

Thanks, I am not in SSDC. I should join but have never gotten around to doing so.

DennisH

These are the only three prives for VAM 44s from the VAMview quarterly magazine archives. They genuinely do not seem to trade hands very often:

1878 7/8TF 44 61 PCGS Nov-05 E $10,200
1878 7/8TF 44 58 PL ANACS Jan-06 PP $5,250
1878 7/8TF 44 53 ANACS Nov-05 PP $6,500

coindeuce

AU-55 raw purchased 4/06 @ $4500.

RVDavis

<< <i>These are the only three prives for VAM 44s from the VAMview quarterly magazine archives. They genuinely do not seem to trade hands very often:

1878 7/8TF 44 61 PCGS Nov-05 E $10,200
1878 7/8TF 44 58 PL ANACS Jan-06 PP $5,250
1878 7/8TF 44 53 ANACS Nov-05 PP $6,500 >>



Dennis:

I noticed. I also note that not many of the VAM registry sets have the 44. I am wondering if it is more scarce than we might think. I had an AU 58 I bought for ten bucks in 1992; sold it for eight hundred a few years later. What a dummy I am.

Rick

hiyosilver

<<1878 7/8TF 44 61 PCGS Nov-05 E $10,200
1878 7/8TF 44 58 PL ANACS Jan-06 PP $5,250
1878 7/8TF 44 53 ANACS Nov-05 PP $6,500 >>



........I've been cherry pickin' the wrong VAM's.

DennisH

Rick:

My take on VAM 44 prices and availability (there are actually quite a few of them known to exist) involves several parts, all of which add up to the silly things probably never getting any easier to acquire:

1. Longtime VAMers started hunting for them years ago and may have already scooped up much of what was out there.
2. People who have them don't seem to be at all interested in selling them.
3. The Registry Set game doesn't seem to suit the mindset of many VAM collectors, so they don't play.
4. Folks who are doing Registry Sets are comparatively new to the VAM 44 hunt, hence they don't have one.
5. The $10K price for the MS61 coin may have spooked people who have a VAM 44 into sitting tight and seeing how much higher prices may go.

Like the 1893-S, the VAM 44 isn't as rare as some VAMs, but it it's been regarded as THE key for so long that it's taken on a special price aura all unto itself.

RVDavis

<< <i>Rick:

My take on VAM 44 prices and availability (there are actually quite a few of them known to exist) involves several parts, all of which add up to the silly things probably never getting any easier to acquire:

1. Longtime VAMers started hunting for them years ago and may have already scooped up much of what was out there.
2. People who have them don't seem to be at all interested in selling them.
3. The Registry Set game doesn't seem to suit the mindset of many VAM collectors, so they don't play.
4. Folks who are doing Registry Sets are comparatively new to the VAM 44 hunt, hence they don't have one.
5. The $10K price for the MS61 coin may have spooked people who have a VAM 44 into sitting tight and seeing how much higher prices may go.

Like the 1893-S, the VAM 44 isn't as rare as some VAMs, but it it's been regarded as THE key for so long that it's taken on a special price aura all unto itself. >>



Thanks for the analysis Dennis. I certainly agree with points 1 and 2, the rest make a lot of sense. It is a pretty amazing obverse.

Rick

Coxe

I agree, Dennis. If everyone looked carefully at what they think is a VAM-33 (or even a B1 reverse 7TF, which are often really weak 7/8TF), a lot more VAM-44 specimens would turn up. I have yet to find one, but there are a lot of coins out there.