1886-o VAM-7 rarity question?

moosesr

Is the 1886-o VAM-7 as rare as the population reports indicates or just hard to see from photos?

Thanks,
Charlie

DennisH

Parts of both I expect, but the bottom line is that very few of them have ever been identified and sent in for grading. In the VAMview archives we have records for only 12 coins changing hands in three years.

Coxe

It s a tough one to see in internet images and even in hand if you are not looking for it. The date is not common in UNC making it even harder to find in a discernable grade. I've found maybe a half dozen over the past several years (one or two are in a box for PCGS right now) but I look at hundreds of the date to find each one. All things equal, these should not be extremely rare. The feature is native to the die and would not erode and is not a late stage or anything. It would be there for the entire production life of the die. However, this and the 1888-O VAM-15 are proving to be quite elusive. I still have not found a VAM-15 in any grade. Again, both should be there for the full production use of the reverse die. It might have been that they were largely concentrated in bags that made it into the melts.

moosesr

<< <i>It s a tough one to see in internet images and even in hand if you are not looking for it. >>



I just received a VAM-7 I bought from a dealer and I agree with Cox. I now see why I haven't been able to find one by looking at internet pictures.

Coxe

<< <i>

<< <i>It s a tough one to see in internet images and even in hand if you are not looking for it. >>



I just received a VAM-7 I bought from a dealer and I agree with Cox. I now see why I haven't been able to find one by looking at internet pictures. >>




.....and the wise man would now do what while he has one in hand?

moosesr

I tried to find some other die markers to help identify this one, but with no luck, did I miss something?