Some coins were made with features that departed from ordinary standards, and their scarcity in the marketplace can increase collector interest and value. The VAM Morgan silver dollar is one such example, valued by collectors because particular varieties can be hard to find.
History of the VAM Silver Dollar
VAMs are Morgan or Peace silver dollars distinguished by a particular die variety. The book The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars documented this die-variety system. Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis published the catalog, combining their surname initials to create the term VAM. Their research identified differences among coins struck in the same year at the same mint, helping separate die varieties within the Morgan and Peace dollar series. Certain distinctions were so small that a microscope was needed to see them.
Identifying a VAM Silver Dollar
Spotting a VAM within silver coins can be difficult because its departures from a standard silver dollar are very small. Most markers need a loupe with 15x magnification. Look for over-polished details on the eagle’s wings and tail feathers on the reverse, along with the portrait’s hair, nostril, and eye. Numerous letters may be doubled, including the full word “liberty,” and the stars can show doubling too.
Some pieces also show clashing on either the obverse or reverse. This happens when the obverse and reverse dies hit one another without a planchet between them. A planchet is the raw metal blank shaped like a coin; after the dies strike it, that blank becomes a coin.
Collecting VAMs
Because a VAM Morgan silver dollar can be scarce, many collectors seek to add as many VAM die varieties as they can to a collection. They may search for, trade, or purchase examples. These varieties could be cataloged through the VAM World Website, an organization devoted to collecting and sharing VAM silver-dollar information and photographs.
VAMs illustrate how an unusual die or distinctive strike may add value to a coin. When this article was originally published, readers who believed they had a VAM silver dollar or another rarity to sell were invited to request an appointment with Atlanta Gold & Coin Buyers to learn about our appraisals by calling 678-515-5763.
