Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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| Reverse of 1880 Morgan Dollar Find. |
Today there are some very helpful web sites. The token catalog is the type of thing that appeals to me. It takes a basic database program and seeks to build a comprehensive listing of tokens. The more complete it is, the more useful it is. It collects, organizes, and makes all the examples readily available to much of the world, and that shared data expands on the overall knowledge level concerning tokens.
Coin collecting has been affected by the internet in the same way. Databases of examples and numismatic information is made available and widely shared. The internet has also changed the market for coins, as it has for many collectibles. Common coins aren't worth as much now because they are easily found and seem much more common than in the days before the internet. True rarities become more desired and more expensive. The bar is raised. With access and knowledge, people want finer and more rare items.
As more is known, people put significance on smaller details. Now people study not just coins of a particular year and mint, but also the various states of the die. As a die is used, wears, develops cracks, and eventually is worn out and replaced. You can tell if a coin is an early or late die state coin by the impression left by the die.
As more is known, people put significance on smaller details. Now people study not just coins of a particular year and mint, but also the various states of the die. As a die is used, wears, develops cracks, and eventually is worn out and replaced. You can tell if a coin is an early or late die state coin by the impression left by the die.
A VAM is a Peace, or Morgan silver dollar die variety that has been identified in an all-inclusive book called The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis. The term VAM derives from the first initials of Van Allen's and Mallis' last names. These two researchers noticed small differences between coins produced in the same year and at the same mint.
The great popularity of noting the many die varieties found, especially on Morgan Dollars, has led to the term VAM being used to describe practically any deviation from a "normal" Morgan or Peace silver dollar for that year and mint. It is now common language among coin collectors that people talk about having found a "VAM" when the variety they are referring to has not been assigned a VAM Number...
They began to photograph and catalog these differences to identify the different die varieties in the Morgan and Peace silver dollar series.
I'm a novice at studying modern coins, but I am enjoying it.
I have been presenting a variety of Philip monogram half reales and comparing them, but that is just a very basic beginning and I will never develop an extensive catalog, yet I find the comparisons interesting and enjoyable.
I found a very good web site on coin varieties. Here are a few dates to remember.
1909 is the beginning of the modern minting process. Prior to 1909 a partial hubbing process was utilized by the U.S. Mint. This process left the date and mintmark to be hand punched into each working die. 1909 saw for the first time, the date engraved into the master die, so that every working hub and working die carried the same date positioning. Mintmarks, however, were still applied to the working dies by hand as each branch mint had a need for dies.
1985 is when the mint began punching mintmarks into the master die.
1986 is when the mint began using a single squeeze hubbing process.
In 1990 the mint began punching the mintmark into the master die for cent and nickel coins.
In 1991 they began punching the mintmark into the master die for other denominations.
I found a very good web site on coin varieties. Here are a few dates to remember.
1909 is the beginning of the modern minting process. Prior to 1909 a partial hubbing process was utilized by the U.S. Mint. This process left the date and mintmark to be hand punched into each working die. 1909 saw for the first time, the date engraved into the master die, so that every working hub and working die carried the same date positioning. Mintmarks, however, were still applied to the working dies by hand as each branch mint had a need for dies.
1985 is when the mint began punching mintmarks into the master die.
1986 is when the mint began using a single squeeze hubbing process.
In 1990 the mint began punching the mintmark into the master die for cent and nickel coins.
In 1991 they began punching the mintmark into the master die for other denominations.
Here is the link for more about watershed dates.
http://www.varietyvista.com/Watershead%20Dates.htm
The same web site provides a long detailed list of specific die varieties.
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We're still having some nice big tides on the Treasure Coast. The surf is still small too, but will pick up just a little tomorrow.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
