Fun and unusual find in the dollar bin at Ashmore RC.

[ashmore86]

So I was really fortunate today. I normally find very little good stuff in our own inventory. Today was better than average... take a look...

CAH-1921-VAM-1AG-Zerbe-U.jpg (383.15 KiB) Viewed 752 times

[messydesk]

Dang! Nice! Is it PL, too?

[fogie]

happy dance!

[crabscrape]

LDS?

[vamnuke]

[ashmore86]

This VAM 1AG Zerbe specimen is an Early Die State with no die cracks and is significantly PL. However, it is a slightly circulated example, which I would grade AU58, but depending on how the grading services grade Specimens, they could call it anything from AU55 to SP61, I'd say.

[ashmore86]

Here are a couple snapshots of the coin. Sorry about the low res.

F919A33D-E056-4656-9D7D-2CC7678FEC19.jpeg (162.72 KiB) Viewed 636 times

B6B7D93F-52EE-43DF-BB89-2F4CD330E4E8.jpeg (139.96 KiB) Viewed 636 times

[Mhomei]

What’s the research that concluded
1AG and 47 both being Zerbie dies?

Is it still true 47 is officially a Zerbie Die?

Mitch

[shortnock]

Mightyfine pickin'!

[DHalladay]

Nice find Ash!!
That's a very elusive VAM in my opinion, no matter what the R rating says.

Please find me an EDS in Mint State.

[messydesk]

What’s the research that concluded
1AG and 47 both being Zerbie dies?

Is it still true 47 is officially a Zerbie Die?

Mitch

Those I've seen are all VAM 1AG.

[ashmore86]

Here's what I've found. There are 2 die pairs that PCGS has put into coins labeled Specimen or Proof Zerbe. Both names are the same. There are not Specimens AND Proofs--they just felt that Specimen was a better name for this strike--and I agree. That makes it no less cool or impressive when it is a Very EDS coin. I have one in SP66 that I think is the king of the Zerbe's matched only by the one graded SP66+. I think you can see them both on PCGS's Coinfacts if you look at all the coins graded and pictured.

So, the VAM-1AG is by far and away the accepted Zerbe die pair. I have seen at least 3 other coins in Zerbe holders that were the second die pair. That die pair MAY be the VAM-47, but I have not verified it. David Miller, my partner "in crime" has one of each and so I've looked at it closely, but I just don't know if I have seen a VAM-47 before. His coin DOES have a more prominent scratch from the denticles to the U, but otherwise it is a nicely cleaned up 1921-P with PL(ish) fields and a really cool look.

If you've ever studied a Chapman proof, THAT was a different animal. Those dies were definitely worked more completely to get a Proof look. David has a Chapman as well, so I've drooled on it too...

Anyway, I'll send this coin off for grading Monday and see what they will do. It will be interesting to see if they treat it like a Proof coin where they give it a 61 or so, or if they grade it strictly like a business strike and they'll 55 or 58 it. The coin doesn't appear to have any cleaning or real damage so it should be a legit EDS Zerbe with the SP designation. If the graders are worth their salt, they will pick up on that part.

Oh..and as far as rarity--I'd say they must've struck 100 or so...maybe even a few more.

[messydesk]

...
If you've ever studied a Chapman proof, THAT was a different animal. Those dies were definitely worked more completely to get a Proof look. David has a Chapman as well, so I've drooled on it too...

After it was in the holder, I hope.

Anyway, I'll send this coin off for grading Monday and see what they will do. It will be interesting to see if they treat it like a Proof coin where they give it a 61 or so, or if they grade it strictly like a business strike and they'll 55 or 58 it. The coin doesn't appear to have any cleaning or real damage so it should be a legit EDS Zerbe with the SP designation. If the graders are worth their salt, they will pick up on that part.

Oh..and as far as rarity--I'd say they must've struck 100 or so...maybe even a few more.

The term "legit Zerbe" is a bit of an oxymoron, since there weren't coins struck for him in Philadelphia. On the other hand, these coins do consistently have an unmistakable special look, as if they were early strikes hand-picked for him off the press, even though there's no evidence to that effect. What it will come down to in the end is how special the marketplace treats your coin. If you send paperwork showing it to be a match for the "Zerbe dies" (i.e., VAM 1AG), then they'll scratch their heads and try and figure out what they want their financial liability to be on the coin before assigning a grade or designation. Their information is no better than ours on this one.