Elite Clashed Morgan Dollars
These are lists of collectible clashed die varieties identified by Dr. Mark Kimpton in his 2005 book "Elite Clashed Morgan Dollars"
TOP 100 Clashed Dies
1878-P VAM-44A
1878-P VAM-203A
1880-O VAM-6A
1880-O VAM-6B
1880-O VAM-6C
1886-O VAM-1A
1887-P VAM-12A
1887-O VAM-22B
1888-P VAM-11A
1888-O VAM-1A
1888-O VAM-1B
1889-P VAM-19A
1889-P VAM-22
1889-O VAM-1A
1891-P VAM-2A
1891-P VAM-2B
1891-O VAM-1A
1900-O VAM-8B
1900-O VAM-10A
HOT 50 Clashed Dies
1878-P VAM-14.4A
1878-P VAM-22A
1878-P VAM-34A
1880-P VAM-11A
1880-P VAM-39A
1883-O VAM-22A
1883-O VAM-36A
1884-P VAM-2A
1886-P VAM-1C
1887-P VAM-1B
1888-P VAM-4A
1888-P VAM-12A
1889-P VAM-23A
1889-O VAM-20A
1891-O VAM-3A
1921-P VAM-3B2
THE SUPER CD (Clashed Die) COLLECTION
This is a list of 25 highly collectible clashed die varieties identified by Dr. Mark Kimpton in his 2005 book "Elite Clashed Morgan Dollars". In an effort to separate out the common from those CD VAMs that were "in a class by themselves", he identified 25 CD VAMs that he considered to be a collection comprising the "most extraordinary varieties known to exist", that weren't already part of the T100 or H50 list. (1883-O VAM-22A is actually mentioned in the H50 book, and is certified as an H50 coin by some of the TPGs.) Some of these VAMs were later made part of the HL40 list, which was published after his book.
All the major TPGs do not currently attribute all of the VAMs on this list. This is a "good news / bad news" thing. The good news is that the listed prices for many of these VAMs don't currently reflect their true scarcity. There are some spectacular VAMs on this list that are major rarities. However, they are so rare that there are very few transactions, and with no census numbers or "registry fever" to drive interest, they are flying under the radar of many collectors.
The 1880 P VAM-24A Strong M_M is one example out of several. It is very likely at least an R7 VAM, and the only known MS coin has been cleaned. A nice MS62 or MS63 example of this coin would be a MAJOR find. Yet the only price point for this coin in the price guide is 750 in AU. (This represents the one recorded transaction).
So the good news is that, with a lot of effort, it is still possible to complete this challenging and interesting set without breaking the bank.
The bad news is that, as a set, the Super CD set currently doesn't get that much respect. Many experienced VAMMERs, even if they've heard of it, don't know which coins are in the set. It's a "list" that hasn't really caught on with the general VAM world. This probably goes back to the fact that PCGS and NGC, the two big "Registry Set" supporters, chose not to recognize this as a "set" and attribute all the coins in the set.
I think that ultimately the VAM collecting world will establish a VAM registry set process that is independent of any particular TPG, and more closely tracks the needs and desires of the VAM collector base. At that point, completing a Super CD set will very likely be widely recognized as a major challenge and a significant collecting accomplishment. Get out ahead of the crowd! If you like CDs, this is a great set to focus on.
1. 1878-P VAM-2A
2. 1878-P VAM-41C
3. 1878-P VAM-42A
4. 1878-P VAM-84A
5. 1878-S VAM-17A HL40 VAM
6. 1880-P VAM-24A
7. 1880-P VAM-32A HL40 VAM
8. 1880-CC VAM-3A
9. 1882-O VAM-29A
10. 1883-O VAM-22A H50 VAM
11. 1885-P VAM-4A
12. 1885-P VAM-9A
13. 1885-P VAM-23A
14. 1887-P VAM-3A
15. 1887-O VAM-30A HL40 VAM
16. 1888-S VAM-3A
17. 1890-O VAM-1B
18. 1890-O VAM-4A
19. 1901-O VAM-1A
20. 1901-O VAM-25A
21. 1901-O VAM-39A
22. 1902-O VAM-26A
23. 1904-O VAM-4B HL40 VAM
24. 1904-O VAM-28A
25. 1921-P VAM-40A HL40 VAM
Clashed Die Desirability:
Each clashed variety known in the TOP 100, HOT 50 and SUPER CD collections ranked in descending order of desirability. Within each category the varieties are listed in the order Dr. Mark Kimpton feels are the most significant.
FIVE STARS
1878-P VAM-44A
1880-P VAM-32A
1880-O VAM-6C
1888-O VAM-1B
1889-O VAM-1A LDS (late die stage)
1889-P VAM-23A
1890-O VAM-1B
1891-O VAM-1A
1901-O VAM-25A
1902-O VAM-26A
FOUR AND 1/2 STARS
1878-P VAM-203A
1878-P VAM-42A
1878-S VAM-17A
1880-P VAM-24A
1880-P VAM-39A
1880-O VAM-6B
1883-O VAM-22A
1885-P VAM-4A
1885-P VAM-9A
1886-O VAM-1A
1888-O VAM-1A
1890-O VAM-4A
1891-P VAM-2A
1891-O VAM-3A
1904-O VAM-4B
1921-P VAM-40A
FOUR STARS
1878-P VAM-2A
1878-P VAM-14.4A
1878-P VAM-34A
1878-P VAM-41C
1878-P VAM-84A
1880-O VAM-6A
1884-P VAM-2A
1885-P VAM-23A
1887-P VAM-1B
1887-O VAM-30A
1887-O VAM-22B
1889-P VAM-19A
1889-P VAM-22
1889-O VAM-20A
1900-O VAM-8A
1900-O VAM-10A
1901-O VAM-39A
1904-O VAM-28A
1921-P VAM-3B2
THREE 1/2 STARS
1878-P VAM-41B
1882-O VAM-29A
1883-O VAM-36A
1888-P VAM-4A
1888-P VAM-12A
1901-O VAM-1A LDS (late die stage)
THREE STARS
1878-P VAM-22A
1880-P VAM-11A
1886-P VAM-1C
1880-CC VAM-3A
1887-P VAM-3A
1887-P VAM-12A
1888-P VAM-11A
1888-S VAM-3A
1891-P VAM-2B
