Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
Above you see a photo showing the minute marks that define one of a variety of VAMs.
VAM refers to different varieties of Morgan and Peace Dollars. The name VAM derives from the two authors of the book The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars, Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis. Leroy Van Allen is still to this day adding different VAM numbers to the known varieties (even though the book hasn't been updated since 1992) and he is the authority on Morgan and Peace Dollars. All of the major grading companies acknowledge some of the VAM designations but as of right now only ANACS will attribute each and every VAM known (a few thousand different varieties).
Very few VAMs have characteristics which are so obvious they can be seen with the naked eye. The overwhelming majority are identified through minute doubling of features or die damage-related markers. So, in most cases, attributing a VAM is a process requiring a loupe with minimum 15x magnification...
Source: What is a VAM? | US Morgan and Peace Dollar VAMs (coincommunity.com)
For numismatics it is very helpful to have good magnification, and necessary if you are interested in errors and varieties.
I actually discovered a U.S. cent variety that is now a recognized variety. I told about that once, I think.
Not long ago (1/3/22) I posted photos of a four-reale that were made using magnification. You could see how deteriorated the coin was as the result of being in salt water.
If you look closely at a cleaned cob, you might be able to tell how it was cleaned. If it was rubbed or polished, you'll see bright and slightly smoothed high points, while grit and dirt can remain in the depressed areas. You might also find other interesting features that you would otherwise miss without magnification.
I just stumbled upon an article in Numismatic News about using magnification to inspect coins. Here is the link.
Coin surfaces reveal much magnified - Numismatic News
Sometimes I think coin collectors are exasperatingl picayune (word origin: Spanish word meaning half reale of sixteenth of a dollar) when it comes to judging a coin's condition, but small details can be both educational and enjoyable.
Lighting is crucial when it comes to taking coin photos. Varying the angle and amount of light can make a huge difference in what you see. Another thing I've done in the past is use black, or fluorescent, light, which helps you see features that you might not otherwise see.
Here are some links to posts that shows objects that actually glow under fluorescent light.
My first treasure hunting application of fluorescent light was to find rubies, which like some other gemstones will glow under fluorescent light. Gemstones not completely covered can be spotted much more easily with fluorescent light, if they are exposed at all. Of course, if they are completely covered, it won't help at all.
I've also told the story of one piece of red sea glass I discovered was uranium glass after looking at it with black light. It was most likely from a lens, perhaps from a buoy, that was specially treated to make it glow.
Depression glass and Vaseline glass will also glow. I've found a few pieces of each of those when bottle hunting.
Ultraviolent light will also reveal calcite on seashells or fossils.
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| Crystallized Shell From Treasure Coast Beach. |
So I've used ultraviolet lighting in the past, but I just discovered tjat it is used for inspecting coins too. Another article from Numismatic News says, Hoskins learned that fluorescent light is the only type of light to use for coin authentication. The benefits of this setup are easy to explain. A stereomicroscope gives us the needed magnification, while using both eyes at the same time provides the natural depth of field we are normally used to. The fluorescent light provided a non-reflective, uniform view of the surface absent the glare of an incandescent light. Thus, we were able to see imperfections of any kind...
Source: Fluorescent Light Coin Examinations - Numismatic News
I haven't tried fluorescent light to examine coins yet, but I plan to try that as soon as I can set up a black light so I can use it with my microscope. I'm curious to find out what I might see then. Hopefully it won't take me long to get that set up.
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The surf is small today. A gentle wind is from the north, and there is a negative low tide.
I hope to do a little looking around if I can get out at the right time.
Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net