What's the difference between a VAM and an error?

57loaded

I know I can look it up but you guys have a better way with words

dan8402

A VAM is just a die variety.

FredWeinberg

Although the general term "Error" has
been used for both Die Varieities and
Mechanical Errors, over the past
few decades it's been divided up
so that:

1. Die Varieties are on the coin Die itself.

2. Mechanical Errors refer to planchet or
Striking Errors.

When I started in the 1960's, both the
national and local error club members
collected "Error Coins" (even earlier than
that - "Fido's" (Freaks, Irregularities, Defects, Oddities)
and no one gave a thought if you collected
Double Struck coins, and Die Cracks or Pre-VAM
Dollar Varieties...

NLKevin

Yeah, but.... Forgive my ignorance, but I thought VAM was an acronym for something... Could you tell me what it stands for?

Wolf359

Leroy Van Allen & George Mallis, authors of the VAM book - initials of their last names.

57loaded

thanks everyone, i have got it!

NLKevin

Thanks, too.

dorkkarl

<< <i>Although the general term "Error" has
been used for both Die Varieities and
Mechanical Errors, over the past
few decades it's been divided up
so that:

1. Die Varieties are on the coin Die itself.

2. Mechanical Errors refer to planchet or
Striking Errors.

When I started in the 1960's, both the
national and local error club members
collected "Error Coins" (even earlier than
that - "Fido's" (Freaks, Irregularities, Defects, Oddities)
and no one gave a thought if you collected
Double Struck coins, and Die Cracks or Pre-VAM
Dollar Varieties... >>

fred, should a overdate, such as 1918/7, be considered a variety or an error?

K S

TwoSides2aCoin

VAM is a disease. Once you get it, you clam up !
An error is a mistake that once you find , you shout out !

FredWeinberg

It's a variety because the "error"
was on the Die itself..................

It's called an "Error" because, like
many overdates and 3-leggers,
Doubled Dies, etc. it's a fast, easy
word to use., ie. "I want the Overdate
Error Buffalo Nickel....."

As I mentioned, the general term Error
is used for both Die Varieties and
major Mechanical Errors......

StampAlarm

<< <i>

<< <i>Although the general term "Error" has
been used for both Die Varieities and
Mechanical Errors, over the past
few decades it's been divided up
so that:

1. Die Varieties are on the coin Die itself.

2. Mechanical Errors refer to planchet or
Striking Errors.

When I started in the 1960's, both the
national and local error club members
collected "Error Coins" (even earlier than
that - "Fido's" (Freaks, Irregularities, Defects, Oddities)
and no one gave a thought if you collected
Double Struck coins, and Die Cracks or Pre-VAM
Dollar Varieties... >>

fred, should a overdate, such as 1918/7, be considered a variety or an error?

K S >>



I thought overdates were in a class of their own because they were done on purpose.



Jerry

dorkkarl

<< <i>It's a variety because the "error"
was on the Die itself..................

It's called an "Error" because, like
many overdates and 3-leggers,
Doubled Dies, etc. it's a fast, easy
word to use., ie. "I want the Overdate
Error Buffalo Nickel....."

As I mentioned, the general term Error
is used for both Die Varieties and
major Mechanical Errors...... >>

excellent! thanks, fred.

K S

FredWeinberg

They are Die Varieties,
but many people consider
them a sub-set of a Variety
as some overdates were
done on purpose.

However, the overdate IS
on the Die itself.

Coxe

Errors are not VAMs. In the past some missing letters from grease fills were admitted to the lst of designated varieties, but Leroy is purging the remaining ones at each convenience. Only actual die varieties and die states/stages are currently designated as distinct VAMs. Nothing directly related to striking is.