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Ok VAM guys, I have a few questions--Pics added warning dialuppers

A friend of mine needed me to cover a paypal payment on an Ebay purchase and when I made the payment, I had a chance to speak with the guy I was paying. It turns out he had a Morgan for sale on Ebay, and he knew it was a nice coin, but it was raw, and he didnt want to have it go for too low.

I said send it to me, Ill look it over and see what I can find out. So he did.

The coin is an 1878 7TF, long nock, nice strong doubled LIBERTY, some very early die cracks around the UNITED on the back, very light clashed/doubled leaves, disconnected leaves, doubled starts to the right of the date, a nice die crack from the edge of the coin going to the stars to the right.

I initially thought it was a VAM80A, then the die crack from edge to the stars is shown on VAMWORLD shows it to be VAM82, but it seems to have more things going on than a VAM80A and more things than a VAM82. It has very little contact marks on the obverse, and a virtually mar free reverse. The most observable mark on the obverse seems to be a mark cocsistant with the picture shown on VAMWORLD above the doubled stars--so it may be a mint isssued mark rather than an after minting contact mark. In bright light, the luster on the obverse of the coin seems to be bland, but in subdued light, I can see the luster follow the coin. The reverse has nice toning begiining around the edge, and nice luster. I almost wonder if a quick dip ( I am not a dipper, have never dipped a coin, but have seen the results of some on the boards) would bring out the coins depth.

So--Are there VAMs that are like other VAMs, but are unique? I mean--because this exhibits some characteristics of a known VAM, but seems to have more to it, is this simply a VAM82 and thats that?

Pics below--enjoy

Thansk, Russ

Comments

  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 14,011 ✭✭✭✭✭
    On matters of VAM identification, it's pretty much impossible without photos. Sorry.
    When in doubt, don't.
  • what DennisH said! need pics!
    steve

    myCCset
  • Pics are a top priority when asking questions regarding any VAM attributing.....
    This is a very dumb ass thread. - Laura Sperber - Tuesday January 09, 2007 11:16 AM image

    Hell, I don't need to exercise.....I get enough just pushing my luck.
  • KaelasdadKaelasdad Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭
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  • KaelasdadKaelasdad Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭

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    some of the last photos just show the detail around the mouth nose and eagle, and the last photo shows some of the toning around the rim

    Thanks, Russ
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139
    Looks like a VAM-82 to me.
    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
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  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 14,011 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Except in just a couple of very extreme cases, cracks are just a normal part of the life and death of a die and don't have anything to do with the VAM attribution.

    Die clashing is extremely common throughout the Morgan series and, except in a comparatively limited number of extreme cases, don't have anything to do with the VAM attribution.

    Also keep in mind that no VAM attribution reference work seems to have ALL the diagnostics for a particular coin illustrated or discussed, so it's normal to find things on coins that aren't in the books.

    I agree with Coxe on this: VAM 82.
    When in doubt, don't.
  • KaelasdadKaelasdad Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for the information, just a few more questions, idea on grade and do you think the mark above the stars is mint made? I saw a rusty looking mark in the same position on VAMWORLD for the VAM82 pictured there
  • KaelasdadKaelasdad Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭
    For the weekend crew

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