Definition: A
VAM is a Peace or Morgan Dollar
die variety that has been identified in an important book called
The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis. The term VAM derives from the first initials of
Van
Allen's and
Mallis' last names.
The great popularity of noting the many die varieties found, especially on Morgan Dollars, has led to the term
VAM being used to describe practically any deviation from a "normal" Morgan for that year and mint, such that people talk about having found a "VAM" when the variety they note hasn't even been assigned a
VAM Number.
See also: VAM Numbers 
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