Some of the most interesting and important silver coins you can collect are the VAM silver dollars. They have a long history that comes out of the two other most famous silver coins, the Peace and Morgan silver dollars.
What are VAM Silver Dollars?
VAM silver dollars are Peace or Morgan silver dollars that were made with unique die varieties. Thousands of these different varieties were listed in the book The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars and the VAM name comes from the combination of the last initials of the authors of that book, Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis.
Peace and Morgan silver dollar coins produced in the same year at the same mint had some differences due to these die varieties and that makes some of them more collectible. Every known die variety has been cataloged by its date and mint mark. VAM-1 is always the normal die for any date and mint and has no distinguishing characteristics. Die varieties that can be distinguished from each date and mint’s VAM-1 are subsequently numbered incrementally, such as VAM-2, VAM-3, and so on.
New varieties are being discovered and cataloged to this day.
How to Identify VAM Silver Dollars:
In order to identify a VAM silver dollar, you have to look for the differences from the standard “VAM-1” Peace and Morgan silver dollar coins. Noticing some of these differences might require a magnifying glass, jeweler’s loupe, or even a microscope.
You might look at the details of the eagle’s wings or feathers or the features of Lady Liberty’s face. The detail of lettering can also determine that a new die was used.
How to Collect VAM Silver Dollars:
For many collectors, the thrill is in finding and buying as many variations of VAM coins as they can, even if they aren’t necessarily rare or expensive. Photos and other references can be found in books, as well as websites, such as the VAM World Website. Looking for the die’s differences and comparing it to existing cataloged varieties is a big part of the fun of collecting VAM silver dollars.
Another option is to search for and buy the rare varieties of VAM coins. In 2004 a well-known list of the Top 50 Peace and Morgan VAM silver dollars was released. Being able to locate a coin on that list would be a big win!
How Much is My VAM Silver Dollar Worth?
The value of your VAM silver dollar depends on a lot of factors, such as how rare it is, the grade, and how in demand that variety might be. You can find VAM silver dollars for as low as $35, while the most collectable varieties regularly go for over $10,000 and even over $100,000 for rare varieties that are in uncirculated mint condition.
Here’s a brief list of some of the most popular and valuable VAM silver dollars:*
- 1878 Morgan dollar, VAM-14.11, Wild Eye: up to $125,000
- 1878 Morgan dollar, VAM 44, Triple Blossom: up to $21,500
- 1934-S Peace dollar, VAM 3, Doubled Tiara: up to $11,500
- 1878 Morgan dollar, VAM 15, Doubled Liberty: up to $3,150
- 1922 Peace dollar, VAM 2A, Earring: up to $3,000
- 1922 Peace dollar, VAM 5A, Scar Cheek: up to $2,000
- 1878 Morgan dollar, VAM 23, Crazy Lips: up to $1,200
- 1922 Peace Dollar, VAM 5, Tripled Leaves: up to $1,000
*Information from: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/vam/1 and https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/vam/2
Do you have any VAM silver dollars? CV Coins & Collectables is the best silver and silver coin dealer in San Diego. Whether you are looking to buy or sell a VAM silver dollar or other silver or gold coins, we can give you a thorough assessment.