This month we are slowing down a bit to make changes to the web site and to cross reference those within the site. 

Feedback from Leroy

We received the second group of coins back from Leroy and he has provided insight into a number of VAMs, especially the VAM 1L which has a die clash error with a $10 gold eagle.

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A Topic of Debate

It is likely that the discussion about VAM 1L will go on for a while.  The original discovery coin has changed hands and we are trying to locate it to confirm the die clash.

 

JB believes the dies to be the ones used on VAM 8, and indeed there are characteristics of VAM 8 readily visible on the VAM 1L.

 

The feature under discussion is the raised dots between the mint mark and the ribbon.

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Are these dots from a die clash with a $10 gold piece as the press was changed for coining, or is this some other defect in the die or the planchet?

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From our side we have a number of VAM 8 coins twenty-two to be exact.  There is a small feature on the image above of a horizontal line that is just above the raised dots.  Of our twenty-two coins, five exhibited this feature.  Four of the five are DMPL coins with the fifth being an AU 58 that we could tell was a highly polished coin before being circulated.

 

So all of these coins were early in the production run and the line could have been polished out later, or worn away as the die was used more.  Or the clash could have been noticed and polished out with the line.

 

But the counter argument is that the dots are a faulty planchet and there was no clash.  Until the discovery coin is located, or a second coin discovered it is unlikely that we can resolve this discussion.

 

So for now VAM 1L lives on which is healthy for our hobby.  It sparks debate and study, and helps illustrate what VAMing is all about.

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The full text of Leroy's letter in PDF format can be accessed here.

In our last submission to Leroy we asked him to review four coins as possible new VAMs.  These are indeed three new discoveries.

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VAM 79 - Doubled Left 8, Notched Right 1

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35253626   AU 55   VAM 79

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VAM 80 - Slightly Doubled Liberty Head Profile & Cap Top

​27802989   MS 63+   VAM 80

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VAM 81 Doubled Right 8, Cap Top, Profile, UNUM, Pitted Reverse

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28286431   AU 53   VAM 81

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Leroy's letter concerning these discoveries can be accessed here.