Hey VAMers --- How do you like your VAMs "served"? ...

SeaEagleCoins

So --- what is your preference?

And...are you willing to pay a premium to acquire one?

Just curious...

DennisH

You've given single-choice answers to a question that can have many replies all at once.

Cherrypicking is always the preferred and most fun route with VAMs. (After all, who doesn't like finding free money?)

But I also frequently buy certain ones -- especially when the seller doesn't have a clue about how to price them, which happens almost as much on the low side as it does on the high side. Even if he is in tune with the market, there are some VAMs for which stated prices are too low in my opinion, so I'm willing to buy them even if they're priced at going rates.

BIGJAYVEE

Larry I would say,99/100% love to cherrypick um,including me as you know.Makes us think we know what we're doing and getting one over on the dealers. HA! HA! A disturbing trend seems to be happening at the shows and I suspect on EBAY,some dealers are'nt advertising VAMS as VAMS and letting us think us VAMMERS cherrypicked a VAM on our own and think we got a bargain at the price.Makes us feel good and hopefully the dealers make their vig.Everybody's happy.What's your take on this?

lkrarecoins

Larry I would say,99/100% love to cherrypick um,including me as you know.Makes us think we know what we're doing and getting one over on the dealers. HA! HA! A disturbing trend seems to be happening at the shows and I suspect on EBAY,some dealers are'nt advertising VAMS as VAMS and letting us think us VAMMERS cherrypicked a VAM on our own and think we got a bargain at the price.Makes us feel good and hopefully the dealers make their vig.Everybody's happy.What's your take on this?

Very good point...I believe this to be true as well.

I think that they get more money not identifying the variety.....Does anyone else feel the same way?

ibzman350

I like my raw circulated 1921 VAMS served on a messydesk,

at times a wolf will deliver them and I've been know to

RJoyce when I place them in my 1921 VAM Dansco..

I also collect any VAM I can find in the small white ANACS holder.


My 1921 PCGS grading set also has some VAMs but those I consider icing on my cake and they were cherrypicks.


So I say any way I can find them.










Herb

Wolf359

Depends what it is, I'll do both buying and picking.

As far as dealers knowing the vam, but not listing it - the ones who I suspect do this use shills
on eBay and I've learned to avoid them. It's not a smart business strategy in the long run.

Coxe

Cherrypicking is preferred....free money on the unpaid variety premium and, even moreso, the thrill of the hunt. However, every serious VAM collector needs to buy (with the premium) or trade those that are just too elusive. A couple other points. (1) Cherrypicking isn't what it was 10 or 20 years ago. If you find an unattributed variety in a public auction these days, you better bet that 4 times out of 5 (at least) another variety hunter sees it too. A cherrypick isn't quite a cherrypick then and, in fact, establishes a market value in cases of thinly available or top pops. (2) Very serious collectors want the top pop or close to it. Nobody can find those consistently and you have to spread out some green to get them sometimes. There are ups and downs in the premium resale market but when I look back it is obvious that a very definite market has established itself for VAMs.

eyoung429

$20 2x2 raw marked at $35 buy at the Colorado expo from a dealer who had a ton of VAM's in slabs







I'm guessing he doesn't do his own homework

Coxe

Nice 38A.

DennisH

Neat one Earl!!

eyoung429

Thank you sir! may I have another?

Same show, different dealer and yes, they had VAM's marked in both 2x2 and in slabs. Got this one for 62 money.... (sorry about the pics..didn't realize they were this crappy)