Vam 12 or Vam 12A?
I can really use some help from the Vam collectors out there. I have this coin, 1887 Morgan, that is listed as a Vam 12. I think it appears to be a Vam-12A. It has all the Vam-12 attributes. I also see all kinds of what I believe to be die clashes on the reverse. What do you think? Thanks for any help.
Comments
Hunter The Coin Collector
Level 4
I've never heard of VAM! I am so sorry I can't help but you definitely taught me something!
CMCC
Level 5
I don't know a single thing about VAM!
Kepi
Level 6
Beautiful coin!
nachos10
Level 4
I don't know so much about VAMs but thats a beautiful Morgan you have there :)
nachos10
Level 4
It looks like it has a soft satin finish
user_4542
Level 4
What is a VAM or what does it stand for?
Longstrider
Level 6
I'm ripping this off directly from Vamwold.com. They explain it better than I. The term VAM is an acronym for "Van Allen - Mallis." Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis. They are the 2 men that started publishing the different varieties of Morgan and Peace dollars. Silver dollars are created by striking metal blanks with hardened dies containing the mirror image of the desired pattern. Through careful study, slight differences can be used to identify specific dies that created the coins. Sometimes these differences occur during the creation of the dies, while other times they are caused by the maintenance or use of the dies. The goal of the VAM system is to number and catalog every known die variety by date and mint mark. I have to warn you, these Vams can become very addicting!
Numinerd9
Level 5
Judging by the clash marks on the reverse, it appears to be a VAM-12A. However, both the 12 and 12A are relatively common in the realm of VAM collecting. VAMworld considers the 1887 Gator Eye variety to be a "gateway coin," in that it's one of the easiest VAM's to recognize and is readily available to meet the demand of variety collectors, hence the modest premiums for these; still a Top 100 VAM, but not the rarest by far. Nice specimen for the type; beautiful, clean obverse!
Longstrider
Level 6
Thanks!