Explanation of the term VAM

Silver dollars are created by striking blank metal planchets with hardened dies containing the mirror image of the desired pattern.  Through careful study, slight differences can be used to identify specific dies that created the coins.   Sometimes these differences occur during the creation of the dies, other times they are caused by the maintenance or use of the dies. 

Extensive research on the variations in the dies used to strike silver dollars was published by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis.   The term VAM comes from their initials.   It centers on Morgan dollars minted by the United States from 1878 through 1921 and Peace Dollars issued from 1921 through 1935.

The VAM system numbers every known die variety by date and mint mark in a one-up system.  New varieties continue to be discovered and added.  Because of the one-up nature of the assignment, the numbers do not correlate across the dates or mint marks, i.e.: an 1880-O VAM-2 does not have the same distinguishing characteristics as a 1882-S VAM-2. 

VAM-1 is the normal die state with no distinguishing characteristics.   Sometimes a letter follows the number i.e. VAM-1A.  Typically this represents a later stage of the die that has a die gouge, major die crack, pitting, die clash, or some other even that can be shown to have changed the die.   Letters are also assigned in a one-up fashion if needed. 

To understand the VAM numbers it is absolutely essential to have the appropriate reference books.  Click here to see a listing of VAM references.

A group of desirable VAMs was published by Michael Fay and Jeff Oxman.  Called the Top 100 VAM Keys, the current list can be seen here.  Another list followed defining the "Hot 50" VAMs, and it is also on the web.  The Top 50 Peace Dollar VAMs can be viewed here.  There are published references with pictures and attribution information for the two Morgan lists.