is anyone watching all the excitement on the VAM-44 on eBay?

Bryan1315 · November 28, 2006 3:29PM

I watched this thing jump up $3,000.00 in one day and was wondering if anyone else is doing the same? 1878 VAM-44 MS-60PL

Coxe · November 28, 2006 3:41PM

Yeah, got the notice of it and others in the quarterly Insights. It will easily pass $10K.

mnmcoin · November 28, 2006 3:48PM

Why does the title say 7/3 but the cert says 7/5?

morris <><

WoodenJefferson · November 28, 2006 3:54PM

<< Why does the title say 7/3 but the cert says 7/5?

morris <>< >>

It's a Vam with-in a Vam!

I'm sure it's just a typo..but twice??

I've never been vamified but ya'll think this 1878 is properly graded at MS-60 PL?

Wondering.

Coxe · November 28, 2006 5:14PM

<< Why does the title say 7/3 but the cert says 7/5?

morris <>< >>

Simple. The reverse is a 7 tailfeather (B reverse) one over an 8 tailfeather (A reverse) one (not exactly, but that has been the traditional view). All such B/A reverses are generically called 7/8 tailfeathers. However, not all of the underlying tailfeathers show up. Some, with few or none showing were trsadtionally called weak amd the others strong. 7/5 TF just means 5 of the 8TF design tailfeathers are visible. There are even 7/0 varieties. This is not a typo.

sonoranmonsoon · November 28, 2006 9:33PM

Tough Vam....but it will sell for much more than I have in the piggy bank. Guess I will have to keep searching my pocket change, in a vain attempt to cherry pick that one.

Bryan1315 · November 28, 2006 10:42PM

I notice in the 7/8 attribution guide they say only 5 or 6 BU coins are known, has this went up since the book was published or is this still the case? Heck I even have this one in my watch list just for the slim chance i can afford it just to have an example of this 1878 VAM, I have plenty VAM-33's I took a chance on that didn't have quite clear pictures but could see it definitely had doubled legs on the reverse

WoodenJefferson · November 28, 2006 11:13PM

<< 

<< Why does the title say 7/3 but the cert says 7/5?

morris <>< >>

Simple. The reverse is a 7 tailfeather (B reverse) one over an 8 tailfeather (A reverse) one (not exactly, but that has been the traditional view). All such B/A reverses are generically called 7/8 tailfeathers. However, not all of the underlying tailfeathers show up. Some, with few or none showing were trsadtionally called weak amd the others strong. 7/5 TF just means 5 of the 8TF design tailfeathers are visible. There are even 7/0 varieties. This is not a typo. >>

I understand your definition of 7/8 to an extent and always knew about the 7/8 designation...but...the coin in the slab exhibits 7/5 (that's what the label defines) according to the graders, but outside of the grading realm it is considered a 7/3 by sight?

So...who's right, the seller <<1878 7/3TF NGC 60PL VAM 44 Tripled Blossoms >> Title

or the grading service <<1878 7/8TF TOP-100 S$1 VAM-44 7/5TF>> label

or are they both right?

Yale68 · November 28, 2006 11:20PM

The VAM 44 is a 7/3 reverse. In fact, it has a reverse which is identical to the common VAM33, and both are considered "Weak" varieties. It is mistakenly called 7/5 in many places.

I think that the VAM 44 has been hyped-up beyond its worth (much like the 93-S in the non-VAM world). Moreover, an NGC MS60 does not interest me - - my guess is that it would be a PCGS AU58.

DennisH · November 28, 2006 11:29PM

Could it be, since this is an early die state example, that it shows traces of two additional tips in addition to the three distinct ones, and NGC just decided to count them all?

Yale68 · November 28, 2006 11:40PM

Dennis - - good thought, but not likely. Furthermore, if you look at the NGC pop stats, they call the VAM 44 a 7/5 TF on all of their certified examples.

Coxe · November 28, 2006 11:50PM

Ah, I need to learn to read better before replying (re: 7/3 vs 7/5). The others handled it fine anyway.

And I agree that the VAM-44 MIGHT be overhyped. There are still some out there mistakenly thought to be VAM-33 or (more often) 7TF R78 Morgans. We just don't know even though a lot of people have examined a lot of 1878 Morgans looking for them already. These still are not like scarfaces. For now, though, it is the crowned king and will get big bids.

I am not going after it. Still have the optimism that I might be able to cherry one someday.

Bryan1315 · November 29, 2006 9:57AM

I believe every VAM collector wants to cherry pick a 44, like I said I have added quite a few unattributed 33's to my collection taking a chance with a little blurry pictures because I could see the doubled legs on the reverse and couldn't see the cotton bowls good enough to tell

coindeuce · November 30, 2006 2:43PM

I'm actually more interested in some excitement about the PCGS-50 just listed in the BST.

Git 'er while she's hot!

DennisH · November 30, 2006 3:34PM

"I'm actually more interested in some excitement about the PCGS-50 just listed in the BST. "

That is an exciting coin!

pf70collector · November 30, 2006 10:35PM

I don't have a clue when it comes to Morgan VAMs, but I have a NGC 1880/79 S Top-100 $1 VAM 8 MEDIUM S MS 65 DPL with a pop of 12. I bought it a few years back for the DPL more than the VAM. Can someone explain to me what I have and what it will go for?

coindeuce · November 30, 2006 11:56PM

The 1880/79-S VAM 8 is a fairly obvious overdate variety, but not particularly rare. The 1996 census included in the Fey/Oxman "The Top 100 Morgan Dollar Varieties: The VAM Keys" showed four certified examples, 67, 66,66,66 and a raw 65DMPL. Obviously those numbers are outdated in the 10 years hence, but the recent hype over Registry collecting should help promote your coin. CDN greysheet is currently $550 for the date in 65 DMPL, and the most recent retail pricing index published for TOP 100/HOT 50 VAM's gives a value for 80/79-S VAM 8 of $1,300. Depending on the color, strike and eye appeal figure the coin to be worth somewhere north of $600 to a Registry VAM collector

pf70collector · December 1, 2006 5:26AM

Thanks coindeuce.

19Lyds · December 1, 2006 5:46AM

Aside from the VAM aspects, the auction states:

<< We can also take Visa/Mastercard and American Express via the telephone, but add 5% to the price to offset bank charges to us. >>

Is that legal for Ebay?

1921obsession · December 1, 2006 5:52AM

I'm seeing some fairly prominent names in the VAM world doing their best to bid this thing up into the stratosphere. Is it a matter of wanting to make the market for this VAM, or just lack of auction savvy?

Yale68 · December 1, 2006 10:18AM

To pf70collector - - If you can get your 1880-S VAM 8 MS65DMPL into a PCGS holder, it would be worth about $2500. There are only about 5 of them in such a condition, and, at last years Heritage auction at the FUN show, one actually sold for about $4700. This was an anomaly because of two aggressive bidders, but since then two trades that I am aware of were around the $2500 figure. Having said this, it is unlikely that your coin will cross, because PCGS is ridiculously strict on this date (which accounts for the low pop). In the NGC holder, the figure that coinduece supplied ($600) is about right.

Coxe · December 1, 2006 11:56AM

I probably should try to cross my NGC 66DPL. My scanner doesn't do it justice in the pics though.

Coxe · December 3, 2006 11:48AM

That was a surprise that noone made him pay more for it even. Went basically by the VAMview sheet and not Fey's sheet. Sold for $6,995.

coindeuce · December 3, 2006 12:03PM

<< That was a surprise that noone made him pay more for it even. Went basically by the VAMview sheet and not Fey's sheet. Sold for $6,995. >>

A surprise? I disagree. It brought more than I expected. I would consider the Unc. 8TF VAM 9 offered by the same seller to be many times more rare than the Unc. VAM 44.

Coxe · December 3, 2006 12:12PM

Oh I totally agree. The VAM-9 is hands-down rarer and IMO more interesting. But I figured one of the guys who is serious about their registry sets would have pounced on it more. If it was the same in a PCGS holder, they probably would have. Bet Michael thought he would have gotten more and might have in a differnet month.

is anyone watching all the excitement on the VAM-44 on eBay?

Comments

Leave a Comment