morgan lover question

arthurlegand · January 16, 2012 9:34AM

for all those who coll morgans just curiouse how many collect vam morgan dollers i collect what ever catches my eye and in my price range but just picked up my second top 50 vam a 1884 o/o hot 50 in ms 65 by pcgs

blu62vette · January 16, 2012 9:50AM

The VAMS have lost my interest. It is a combo of to many meaningless VAMs and then some of the people I have met along the road. I still really like the major VAMs. A while back I headed down the PL/DMPL road instead of the VAM road. They are still fun and I like when I find a better one here and there but I don't search them out.

Edit to add: I have some great VAM friends but there are some in the overall group that have rubbed me the wrong way, some as most situation in life you have to take the good and the bad. I also don't see the main VAM club promoting VAMs outside th club itself. Aside from a chatroom and one meeting a year not much else goes on.

coinbuf · January 16, 2012 10:07AM

I love Morgans, allmost as much as Lincolns, and while I find VAM's interesting I'm just not really a varity collector. I understand the reason and attraction that draw some collectors to them, but like you if I find a coin I like and it is a VAM then great if not thats fine too.

BAJJERFAN · January 16, 2012 10:21AM

Never got that much excited about them. I suppose it is possible I may have left a little money on the table when selling, but que sera sera.

AUandAG · January 16, 2012 10:27AM

I did the VAMs for a while and eventually lost total interest. Every Morgan is a VAM and
there are just too many, mostly insignificant, to collect. Oh, I still look at them as there are
a few that interest me and I'd buy in a heartbeat but not so much anymore.

bob

arthurlegand · January 16, 2012 10:44AM

i agree a lot of minor ones i prefer only major or semi major ones just 2 have a few

coindeuce · January 16, 2012 12:45PM

I've owned most of the major Morgan VAMS, with only a few exceptions (1888-O Scarface VAM1A and a few others that are in the top echelon of TOP 100 / HOT 50), and it was most fun having found them unattributed, but I've only remained true to completing a set of the 1878 8TF varieties. That has been a 15 year labor of love. I also get more enjoyment from hunting high grade type coins and Mint made exonumia now.

BAJJERFAN · January 16, 2012 1:55PM

<< <i>Edit to add: I have some great VAM friends but there are some in the overall group that have rubbed me the wrong way, some as most situation in life you have to take the good and the bad. I also don't see the main VAM club promoting VAMs outside th club itself. Aside from a chatroom and one meeting a year not much else goes on. >>

They the ones who cherrypick you and say VAM VAM thank you maam?

bob48 · January 16, 2012 3:04PM

I have also collected the VAMs but I have moved on, I still like the E Clashes and watch for them, Long Nocks and most of the major ones. I do like the Morgan series and do still collect them. But today I have started collecting PCGS Rattlers and Samples, ANACS Photo certs and ANA/ANACS 1st Generation holders, and some of the out of business TPG's holders. As for most of the coin market is really getting too expensive for me to make many purchases anymore.

ricko · January 16, 2012 9:00PM

I have never really checked my Morgans for VAM's... just never was interested enough. I wonder if I have any good one's? Cheers, RickO

Raybob15239 · January 17, 2012 12:04AM

I collect Morgans and peace Dollars, and yes, I collect VAMs. I have attributed all of my Morgans and most of my Peace Dollars (attribution of Peace Dollars is a challenge for me). While I have a number of "list" coins (Top 100, Hot 50, Hit List), most of the varieties I have attributed (and many of my discoveries) are minor varieties. I started collecting by VAMs because I hit a brick wall on my date/mm set. I needed just three coins to complete it, and did not have the cash to do so. I kind of lost interest as a result. But one day, when I decided that I needed to get insurance on my collection, I started looking for values. I had one "variety" coin in my set... the 1882O/S and was looking for a value. I accidently stumbled upon VAMWorld and that was the beginning of my VAM addiction.

What VAMming does for me is that it allows me to continue to collect and add to my set with a limited budget. I have found a number of better VAMs in melt buckets... I refer to it as the dumpster dive. I can have the enjoyment of searching through dozens of coins, and experience the thrill of the hunt and the bigger thrill of the cherrypick, all on a very reasonable budget. Most of my discovery pieces came out of melt buckets (even though they were AU or MS coins). Then, I also got to enjoy cherry picking my own collection... I found new enjoyment in the coins I already owned bny attributing them as well.

Is VAMming for everyone? No. Its kind of like numismatic forensics (someone on VAMWorld came up with that analogy). It takes time and patience. There are those who only go after the big fish...those who are only looking for profit and those who just enjoy the hobby and collect coins, not invest in them. Yes, there are many varieties that are nothing but "die poop" (another VAMWorld analogy), but that's what is fun about this hobby if you treat it as a hobby. You can enjoy the minor varieties as much as the major ones. I developed an affinity for the 1921 Scribbles varieties. Nothing could be more minor or be better classified as "die poop" as scribbles, but to me, they are a fun challenge.

If you want to collect Morgans or Peace Dollars but are on a limited budget, VAM collecting can offer you challenges and fun. If all you are interested in is profit, then just concentrate on the major varieties. In any event, go check out VAMWorld. There is a wealth of information there and its free. There are also a number of folks with a great deal of knowledge who freely share it if you are genuinely interested in VAMs and are making an effort to learn. Treat them as a free attribution service and you'll get your legs cut out from under you very quickly.

I have suspended my collecting efforts since last year, not because of lost interest, but because of family obligations (a 2-1/2 YO and a 1 YO). Two in diapers (plus the cost of formula, with which, thankfully, we are done) does not leave you with much disposable income for coin collecting pursuits.

tahoe98 · January 17, 2012 12:28AM

<< <i>I have never really checked my Morgans for VAM's... just never was interested enough. I wonder if I have any good one's? Cheers, RickO >>

...oh my ricko! you gotta take a look-see at your holdins! you may get a pleasant surprise!

...

bob48 · January 17, 2012 4:54PM

Raybob
Your a 21-D capped R but are you VAM 1B1 or without the E VAM 1B2?
I still like Vams
Take Care,
Bob

morgan lover question

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