Back from LVA - two kills, one reinstated

[weth]

Hi gang,

Just got back a package from LVA, and I’m so very pleased with the results! It had been a very long time (over a year) since I’d written to him as, well, I didn’t have much to show him. But some poking at the 1885 O series as well as an 1883 P issue that arose from the most recent supplement compelled me to send the man some examples. I’ll post the letter in a bit once I get to a scanner, but for now a verbal description of the four issues I pursued:

Issue 1: 1883 P VAM 14. The most recent supplement showed this as being eliminated, judged to be the same as 83 P VAM 15. I was confused, as they’re clearly different die pairs. So I sent in examples of each type.
Result: 1883 P VAM 14 reinstated.

Issue 2: 1885 O VAM 11/11A. The nomenclature is that VAM 11 is without the gouge in the reverse wreath, and VAM 11A is with the gouge. Problem is, they all have the gouge. So I sent in a DMPL example to show that very, very early on in the die, the gouge was there and was likely there all along.
Result: 1885 O VAM 11A eliminated / 1885 O VAM 11 revised to note gouge

Issue 3: 1885 O VAM 8. I posted a thread on the “old” VAMworld about my inability to find a VAM 8, and the consensus was that it likely didn’t exist. I provided a printed copy of that thread, along with my own observations. Wasn’t expecting any action, but to my surprise LVA said that in examining his old photos closely, it did appear that the original VAM 8 example matched the reverse of the VAM 23 and he likely missed the shaft doubling at that time.
Result: 1885 O VAM 8 eliminated!

Issue 4: 1885 O VAM 24 “belly button”. The reverse indentation characteristic in some 1885 O examples appears only on the VAM 24. Based on the details, it seemed like an odd phenomenon that may be due to something that happened to the die. So I sent five different examples, showing the recess in various stages. LVA confirmed that this was “caused by slightly weak strike plus die basining with shallow radius of curvature that emphases coin metal flow toward periphery and less at coin center. They are all a striking error.” Later on, after much further explication – “Enough said, since I don’t list striking errors!”
Result: 1885 O VAM 24 belly button is a striking error, not a die variety

[messydesk]

Always good to improve the integrity of the VAM catalog.

[rodmeader]

Great work. Congratulations.

[RMG1883CC]

SWEET !!!!!!!!1
Now to get the pages upda ted,,,,,,,

[bob259]

Good Work!

[ChiefRet.]

Nice work, and good observations.

[tmanhg]

Great work Tom!! Keep it going.

[ljs123]

WTG Tom!

[CascadeChris]

Cool. Always wondered about that belly button. My v24 with the large wire S/T on obverse has it. Guess it's a double striking error now

And very nice job on the 11/11A cleanup. I'm actively hunting for the 79s v1B obverse in EDS DMPL

[vampicker]

Kills are so much harder than getting new listings. It really deserves its own symbol

[blh74]

Thanks for clearing that up. I have 2 belly button coins and often wondered what caused them.

[PacificWR]

Tom,

Did you get the letter from LVA posted. The 1885-O VAM-11A page is still listed and the VAM 11 page has not been updated.

[Tekkie1]

Great Job, especially on the 11/11A !
Well done.

[fogie]

Outstanding!!!! Kills are tough but really appreciated.

[bob259]

Thumbs Up!.jpg (8.21 KiB) Viewed 505 times

[weth]

Thanks, all! Attached is LVA's letter (I hope)

[andywoj00]

I've updated these listings. Please check them and tweak if needed.....Andrew