Any Vammers out there ?

dan383 · March 24, 2011 6:17AM

I just picked up a 1921-s Thornhead 1b1 , according to the website vamworld . It says that it is a R-6 .
I don't want to send it for grading as it is a VF-40 maybe 45 . My question is would I be better off on E-Bay
or will I do ok on the BST board . The reason I'm asking is a auction might gain more money , but when
you minus the fees , the bst might prove better .

coindeuce · March 24, 2011 6:19AM

Try the Buy/Sell /Trade board at VAmworld.com. That's where all the Vam geeks hang out. Me three.

Wolf359 · March 24, 2011 6:23AM

http://www.vamworld.com/message/list/BSTA

I'm in the market for 1B3 and 1B3a if you find it.

messydesk · March 24, 2011 6:55AM

VAM 1B1 is one of the tough ones. DennisH might have a list of recent sales in assorted grades. Can you post a picture?

DennisH · March 24, 2011 7:01AM

That's a very seldom seen coin. Out of over 27,000 VAM sales prices I've collected, I don't have a single one for the 1B1 Thornhead.

dan383 · March 24, 2011 7:11AM

Thats good to hear . I'm not a novice collector , it is certainly an 1B1 . So do you think I should send it for
grading , or send it to you .....

Wolf359 · March 24, 2011 7:28AM

I bought a cleaned XF45 VAM-1B1 for $200 from Earl Young back in 2009.

DennisH · March 24, 2011 7:29AM

Dan:

I'm a PCGS nerd, and if gathering all those VAM sales prices has taught me anything it's that certified coins sell for more than raw coins, and PCGS-graded coins almost always sell for more than coins in other holders. That said, the cost realities of dealing with PCGS are becoming pretty obnoxious.

First is the cost of grading.
Then is the handling fee.
And the VAM attribution fee.
Last but not least is postage both ways.

By the time all is said and done, you're looking at $75-$80 just for Economy... which assumes the coin WILL go into a regular holder rather than a "Genuine" holder.

Is your coin worth the expense? Since you 'picked it I'd say yes.
Would being in a PCGS holder make it worth $75-$80 more than being raw? Probably.

Perhaps the biggest consideration here is, PCGS doesn't single out VAM 1B1 for designation... they call it 1B1/2. Nor does this specific coin fill a specific hole in any Registry set; only a Thornhead of any kind is required. This penalizes really rare Thornheads because it gives people an easier (and cheaper) way to fill the slot. That, in turn, limits the price of the rare ones.

If it's my coin I send it in... but I save the postage both ways because I'm local and get to drop off/pick up in person.

dan383 · March 24, 2011 7:59AM

Dennis , you have touched on all the points I wanted to confirm . I don't understand why PCGS will not
make the Vam attribution's 1B1 thru 7 . Anacs will . I have only sent coins in for grading to PCGS thru
the Plat. member voucher . I dropped my membership a few years back , but thinking of joining once more .
I just don't see the added value in getting this coin graded . I have graded circulated coins , but only Gold Coins . I have also graded a few PO01's , because they are cool . I tried to take a picture , but I can't take
pictures of coins to save my sole . If I'm seeing it right , vamworld lists 1B1 as only 2 graded by anacs and 1 raw !

DIMEMAN · March 24, 2011 8:36AM

I would get it in a PCGS holder, but that's just me.

I never send in a single coin....too expensive. I wait and get a group to average out the cost. And I usually submit at a show that PCGS is at so I don't pay shipping to them.

messydesk · March 24, 2011 11:05AM

If you want your coins PCGS certified and attributed to specific VAMs they won't recognize, there are alternatives you can PM me about.

Any Vammers out there ?

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