Coin Varities as shown in PCGS Price guide

[Mikaren99]

Hello, I'm fairly new to Coneca and its forum, but proud to say I am a new member as of today! I am fascinated how many varieties are found in our older US coins. I'd like to know what is the best way to look up a certain coins variety as depicted in the PCGS Price guide.
Examples are: VAM 1. VAM 2. Cohen 1, Cohen 2, Overton 101, 102, etc..... Where can I find information on these different types of varieties & explanation of how they differ from the regular struck coin of the same make? PCGS does not divulge much information on these variety differences. I have spent hours sometimes just stuck on one coin and researching books and sites to just come up even more confused!

Thanks for any help on this!
Mike

[eaxtellcoin]

Evening Mike,
PCGS uses the acronym from the Cherrypickers guide - Fivaz - Stanton. - you can find those at shows, and on line. There up to Volume 6 so depending on the denomination you collect, make sure you buy the correct one. Then when you look there, the cross references are already added. you can actually look the variety up here on the CONECA Master List - Still being updated - Variety Vista, Wexler, Copper Coins are all great resources for RPM's / Double Dies. VAMS I would look into the small white book - Top 100 Morgan Dollar Varieties - The VAM Keys Michael S. Fey and Jeff Oxman should give you an example photo of those.

I usually use Breen for most of the rest of those questions. Walter Breen.

I will add. I'm not an early collector. Mainly just cents and nickels. Gary "Minterrors" can help with other information
I hope this helps,
Eric

[MintErrors]

I will add to what Eric has already discussed.

• Overton is found in a book, but its normally early style coins, a lot of half dollars.
• FS Labeled coins typically bring a decent prepremium.
• Vamworld.com is a good site for the Morgan and Peace dollars. There a ton on VAMs on those series. In My opinion, pay attention to the R(rarity) and I (interest) numbers. It may reflect which ones are a little more desirable to the overall collectible market.
• VAMs can also be listed in book form, The Vam encyclopedia for Morgan and Peace dollars. The online versio might be a little more accurate.
• Although PCGS and NGC have listings, they also only put up coins that they are willing to encapsulate. There are probably a lot more out there then they are willing to do.
• On the PCGS website, you can go to the denomination and year a sif any mint mark. Yoy may not be able to see the entire run of years. You si ply look at the last listing, and just below that last listing to the left is a pull down menu. Set it to ALL.
• When you find coin you are looki g for, sometimes next to the date, to the left is a Plus sign (+). If you click on that it will reveal all the varieties that PCGS currently "recognizes".

Happy hunting.