VAMquest.com: The Premier Morgan Dollar and Peace Dollar Auction.

The 1878-P 7-TF Rev79 set is starting to draw more interest, now that there is an attribution guide to help identify the rarer varieties. And one of the more interesting ones is the VAM 224, which was struck with a “special” collar having only 168 reeds. It’s still a bit of a mystery, but the fact remains that this unusual variety, which can easily be identified even in a sealed slab, is gaining in popularity. Included in the Hit List 40, this is the first time we’ve offered the VAM 224 in one of our auctions, and we’re pleased that this attractive specimen is more than solid for the grade.

The idea with this lot was to allow those collectors without the backing of the Rockefeller family to have something incredible to bid on. With a Minimum Bid of $25, this 1878-S in NGC MS63 is a fraction of the Greysheet value and quite a bargain! But more importantly, the coin is “all there” for MS63.

For those of us who are fascinated by Rotated Die varieties in the Morgan and Peace dollar series, this 1878-CC in an NGC MS64 holder represents an exciting opportunity. Its obverse and reverse dies are rotated more than 35 degrees, and the MS64 grade is unheard of in the case of Rotated Dies. Indeed, large premiums are the rule whenever a nice, original specimen like this appears in the marketplace. Even so, the example offered here has a reserve of only $375, which is less than the Greysheet value listed for any non-rotated 1878-CC in MS64!

Here\'s an interesting coin – a scarce 1880-P VAM 6 overdate specimen in a “Fitzgerald Hoard” NGC holder. The distinctive purple label is unique and TOP 100 varieties in special holders always seem to generate extra excitement. As for the VAM 6 “8/7” overdate, it\'s scarce is all grades, and almost never seen in special holders. As for the grade, we would grade this VAM 6 as XF40, rather than XF45. Why? The detail is right for the higher grade, but its dark surfaces warrant the lower grade in our view. Nevertheless, this is the first time we’ve come across this variety in a Fitzgerald holder, and another specimen probably won’t come this way again.

The majority of VAM collectors own nothing better than an AU 1880-O VAM 5 in their collections, so this may be a fantastic opportunity to acquire an example that’s out of this world! Indeed, this MS63 DMPL specimen is absolutely breath-taking. There’s contact here and there, but the fields are deep, deep mirrors, Liberty’s cheek is frosty white, and some toning around the perimeters sets off the contrast between fields and devices. Of course, any DMPL 1880-O is a major rarity, but the fact it’s a VAM 5 in MS63 DMPL makes this offering legendary.

The 1880-O VAM 43 is one of the unsung heroes of the TOP 100. Why? You rarely hear about the VAM 43, but when was the last time you saw one in Mint State? It’s not surprising that the current VAMVIEW price guide lists it at $600 in MS61! Eventually, collector knowledge will catch up with this “Doubled Ear” variety, and when it does, look out for the price! Nice and original with peripheral toning.

Strong Repunched Mintmark varieties like this 1883-O/O VAM 4 not only have the attention of today’s collectors, but have been popular for decades. In fact, the VAM 4 is part of the original TOP 100 listings. However, the key point here is the fact that few VAM 4’s, if any, can match up to the quality of this one, which has frosty, silk-like surfaces and an incredibly clean cheek on Liberty. All we can say is that the purchaser of this coin will be amazed!

For specialists, deep mirrors on a Morgan dollar are enough to inspire songs and poetry! And DMPL coins have been popular for decades. Which brings us to this beauty. Putting a coin like this away for the future makes a lot of sense, and the fact that the Greysheet listed price is unreasonably low compared to the rarity involved makes them that much more desirable. Check this out: The Greysheet lists common date Morgans in MS63 DMPL at only $90. All we can say is just try to find one at that price!

While it’s true that not all “Dash” varieties are exciting to collectors, the “Dash” feature on this 1885-CC VAM 4 is enough to give most VAM guys heart palpitations! Why? The “Dash” is huge and prominently doubled, and there’s nothing else quite like it in the entire Morgan dollar series. And then there’s the grade: NGC MS65! These have sold for multiples of the reserve price listed here, and such breath-taking, frosty VAM 4’s are rarely found.

Where would you go to find another 1886-P VAM 1A in MS66 condition! In this strastospheric grade, the VAM 1A is a condition rarity that should garner serious demand. It’s true that the TOP 100 listed VAM 1A is obtainable in all grades up through MS64, but the population thins out in MS65 and really nose-dives in MS66. And yes, this example is that good! In fact, it’s the finest we have seen.

Most collectors are aware of the fact that the value of an 1886-O Morgan dollar goes up geometrically as the grade increases. If you can believe it, MS65 specimens are now listed in the Greysheet at $139.500! It’s also true that in circulated grades, this particular date seems to produce more than its share of problem coins that have been cleaned or otherwise impaired. Now the good news: This inexpensive PCGS XF45 specimen is everything you could ask for in the grade.

Using a left-over “Oval O” mintmark punch from the 1879-1884 era, the 1889-O VAM 2/2A is the only known die pair to have an “Oval O” in 1889. And as the later die state, the VAM 2A displays strongly doubled clash marks. In terms of availability, any “Oval O” mintmark variety from 1889 is scarce in lower grades, rare in XF and AU, and ultra-rare in Mint State. For the sake of perspective, PCGS has slabbed a total of only sixteen BU examples , so this miniscule number must satisfy the demands of hundreds, if not thousands, of VAM collectors. Talk about future potential!

Coins listed as part of the Hit List 40 have hit the ground running, and in the process, Clashed Die varieties like this 1904-O VAM 4B have entered the spotlight. And who wouldn’t respond to a variety with the moniker, “Fish Hook” variety! But on the downside, the 1904-O VAM 4B is one of the more common Hit List 40 varieties, even though the VAM 4B can be difficult to find. That said, this somewhat baggy example is certainly priced right, since the Minimum Reserve is about the cost of the slab & the shipping to and from PCGS.

The 1921-S “Thorn Head” varieties represent quite a story for collectors to sort out. Suffice it to say that the VAM 1B-5 is one of the varieties that’s quite scarce in any grade, and of the small number known, few make it into a PCGS holder. Yes, it’s hard for some of us to get excited about an VF35 Morgan, but this specimen is so rare that the grade makes sense. Furthermore, when tilted in the light, there are clear indications of lustrous surfaces. Overall this attractive example would grade XF in the eyes of most collectors.

One of our favorite Peace dollar varieties is the 1923-D VAM 2. Why? It hardly ever comes up in conversations, yet it is one of the scarcest varieties in the TOP 50 listings. Guess how many have been slabbed in Mint State by PCGS. There have only been 13 that have made it into PCGS holders, along with another 15 circulated pieces! That makes a total of 28. No wonder the VAMVIEW price guide lists it at $500 in AU50. Best of all, this PCGS example is definitely PQ for the grade, and would fit into a nice Mint State TOP 50 set.

Here is one under-rated variety! As a member of the TOP 50 listings, the 1923-S VAM 1C with Pitted Reverse die doesn’t show up either on Want Lists or for sale very often. It is an imbalance that someday will get straightened out, but for the record, we believe the VAM 1C is much rarer than collectors give it credit for. That said, here is a Choice AU specimen with excellent luster and detail that should appeal to lots of Peace dollar enthusiasts.