First ever MS65 Morgan purchase! VAM 1E2
I have wanted to step outside my Nickel collecting and find a nice ms65 Morgan to get. I had it narrowed down to a few when I noticed an odd feature on one. I had wanted an old rattler ms65 but being a variety enthusiast, when I realized there was a die clash and what I suspect is a VAM 1a with line in 6 I went for it with my eBay bucks!
IT IS A VAM 1E2 spiked 6
Does PCGS attribute on label for these VAMs?
These were the runners up
I love the look on the 1900 with colors, the green bean nearly had me sold, I like the look of 1878 and 1879 on Morgans. And the rattler is a rattler


Comments
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Nice, congratulations !!!
Timbuk33 -
I think PCGS only notates Top-100 VAMS only. ANACS does all of them, and have an endorsement from the Society of Silver Dollar Collectors Table grader.
thefinn1 -
I would of made your choice over the others as well. The others don't compare but yet, they all grade MS65.
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
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The clash on the 1886 makes it a VAM-1a1. Both the 1a and 1a1 are TOP 100 VAM's, so yes PCGS will notate it on the label with the attribution fee. Nice pick up by the way.
@thefinn said:
I think PCGS only notates Top-100 VAMS only. ANACS does all of them, and have an endorsement from the Society of Silver Dollar Collectors Table grader.PCGS will actually attribute all List VAM's, not just the TOP 100. That includes TOP 100, Hot 50 and Hit List 40, I'm not sure about the Kimpton 12 or WOW VAM's though. Although a number of WOW VAM's are on one of the first 3 lists.
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By the way, if you prefer to keep a Morgan in a PCGS holder and want a VAM attributed, you can always send it to @messydesk, he has an attribution service known as VARSlab. It's a well respected attribution service. He adds a customized label with the VAM and a photo of the key pick up on the back of the slab over the hologram area.
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@jtlee321 said:
By the way, if you prefer to keep a Morgan in a PCGS holder and want a VAM attributed, you can always send it to @messydesk, he has an attribution service known as VARSlab. It's a well respected attribution service. He adds a customized label with the VAM and a photo of the key pick up on the back of the slab over the hologram area.I have seen those on eBay. I own one or two. I wondered who does this and if it helps Pcgs make their attributions? I would gladly pay for that if it helped them stop declining my varieties!
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@Aspie_Rocco said:
@jtlee321 said:
By the way, if you prefer to keep a Morgan in a PCGS holder and want a VAM attributed, you can always send it to @messydesk, he has an attribution service known as VARSlab. It's a well respected attribution service. He adds a customized label with the VAM and a photo of the key pick up on the back of the slab over the hologram area.I have seen those on eBay. I own one or two. I wondered who does this and if it helps Pcgs make their attributions? I would gladly pay for that if it helped them stop declining my varieties!
Unfortunately PCGS does not use them to help attribute varieties. But I can tell you that serious VAM collectors would rely on the accuracy of his attributions over PCGS's. Not trying to knock PCGS, just saying.
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Very nice indeed.
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Congrats Aspie

Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
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I like very much the one you chose. It is very clean.
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I think you chose the best of that group. I wouldn’t worry about getting it attributed as it won’t add any value and you seem to have already done the hard work yourself.
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Nice selection... a good looking Morgan. I am not a VAM collector, but sounds like you got a good one there too... Cheers, RickO
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@jtlee321 said:
@Aspie_Rocco said:
@jtlee321 said:
By the way, if you prefer to keep a Morgan in a PCGS holder and want a VAM attributed, you can always send it to @messydesk, he has an attribution service known as VARSlab. It's a well respected attribution service. He adds a customized label with the VAM and a photo of the key pick up on the back of the slab over the hologram area.I have seen those on eBay. I own one or two. I wondered who does this and if it helps Pcgs make their attributions? I would gladly pay for that if it helped them stop declining my varieties!
Unfortunately PCGS does not use them to help attribute varieties. But I can tell you that serious VAM collectors would rely on the accuracy of his attributions over PCGS's. Not trying to knock PCGS, just saying.
People have sent stuff with my sticker on it back to PCGS for attribution. I don't know if it helps or not, but it is in front of the attributor as "supporting documentation" that is not easily separated from the coin, as may happen if you send in other paperwork with your submission that may never be seen by the appropriate people. If it's a variety they don't attribute, however, my sticker on the slab isn't going to cause them to put it on their label.
PM me with other questions you may have regarding specifics.
John
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution4 -
And I don't think the 1886 is VAM 1A. The date's too high. VAM 7, perhaps.
John
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution1 -
It's Addictive. Blue chip grade.
email: ccacollectibles@yahoo.com
100% Positive BST transactions1 -
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@messydesk said:
And I don't think the 1886 is VAM 1A. The date's too high. VAM 7, perhaps.Yes I don’t see the line on top of the 6, I thought the line was under the top curl of the 6 above the round part.
I am Looking forward to further inspection on arrival. Even if not a VAM, I am still excited.
Thanks for looking in Messydesk.
I am happy to find a new area to hunt for varieties0 -
Congrats on selecting a nice one.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
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It arrived today
so much going on with this coin, it’s a nice change of pace from my regular collection.
Evidence of die clash on obverse and reverse, and “S” in the right wing, die cracks around reverse letters and obverse hat and date. Cool looking coin in my opinion, I am happy with my purchase. I figured out it is a VAN 1E2 http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1886-P_VAM-1E2






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Highly recommend @messydesk's www.varslab.com service if you want it kept in a PCGS or NGC slab rather than going with ANACS. His attributions, along with John Robert's attributions over at ANACS, are the most trusted in the industry FWIW.
The more you VAM..1 -
I might even buff the scratches out of that slab for you.
John
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution1
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