VAM 28

VAMs

Primary Characteristics

28 - Doubled Profile

Identified in 1997 by Jeff Oxman

 

Obverse Hub III2 Die 17

Die 1 - The Liberty head profile is slightly doubled from the forehead to the chin. The phrygian cap is weakly doubled at the top edges.  There is a spike in the upper loop of both eights.  There is a die marker of a scratch at the back of the eye at the hair line.

 

Die 2 - Die chip at top left inside of the left 8 upper loop.  There is a die marker of a diagonal die scratch below the right rear of the Phrygian cap.  There is a reverse die marker of a polishing line on the second inner feather from the bottom of the eagle's left wing.

 

Die 3 - There are lines and pitting in the eagle's left wing-neck gap.  There is a diagonal polishing line in the R of LIBERTY.

 

Reverse Hub C3 Die a

Normal Die

 

 

 

Quick Identification Guide

The identification of the sub-die within VAM 28 might seem tricky but once you know a few tricks it becomes quite easy.  First understand that die 28.3 is the most dominant and almost all VAM 28 coins are Die 3, so start there.

 

  • Is there a diagonal line in the R of LIBERTY?  If "Yes" then you have a Die 3.
  • If there is no diagonal line in the R, then is there a polishing line or tiny gouge in the second feather of the eagle's lower left wing?  If so you have a Die 2.  As a secondary check, there should be some vertical polishing lines in front of Liberty's eye that follow the contour of the eyeball.
  • If there is no diagonal line in the R, then do both 8s have a small die chip in the upper loop at about 10 o'clock?  In the second 8 it can be small and might be slightly separated from the edge of the upper loop.  This one is hard to see, but there should also be a small gouge behind the eye.  You have a Die 1.

This is how we learned to sort them out and hopefully it will help you.

PCGS Graded Coins - Die 1

PCGS Graded Coins - Die 2

PCGS Graded Coins - Die 3