WAMs and CAMs

I've added a video on YouTube to help explain these:

There is not enough information out there in enough places for people to fully grasp the nature of these reverse die varieties.   It's time I offer what I can to help close this discrepancy.  These are truly a Family of die varieties: WAMs and CAMs.

WAM: RDV-006 Wide AM

CAM: RDV-007 Close AM

When the first Memorial Reverse design was minted in 1959, it featured a gap between the A and M in AMERICA.  The design stayed mostly the same, with a few minor touch ups which nobody much noticed, but they rejoiced nonetheless.  Until 1988.
That was the year of a minor reverse die redesign.  Variety Vista lists this new design as RDV-006.  It was not supposed to be used until 1989.  The RDV-005 was supposed to be used.  Problem is, both the RDV-005 and RDV-006 have a space between the A and M.  The only notable difference was the small horizontal bar and flared bottom on the G in the designer's initials. 

RDV-005

Being both reverse designs were used in 1988 at Philadelphia and Denver, 2 new varieties came into existence.  Later, 3 more varieties would be result from the same design.

1988
The first born is the 1988 RDV-006.  This is listed in The Cherrypicker's Guide as FS-01-1988-901 (FS stands for Fivaz and Stanton, the authors).  This is sometimes referred to as the '1988 with the reverse of 1989. 
There were several different dies used in Philadelphia.  Variety Vista lists 3 on their website.  Wexler attributes 7.
At the same time in Denver, a similar situation presented, this time with 3 dies used.  This is listed by Variety Vista as 1988-D RDV-006, and in the CPG as FS-01-1988D-901.  Variety Vista attributes 3 dies for Denver, suggesting it is much harder to find than the Philadelphia version.  Wexler attributes 12 dies.

RDV-006
Flared G

Conversely,


These are the Variety Vista listings for the 1988 and 1988-D RDV-006 varieties:

1988 1c RDV-006, Die 1 of 7

1988 1c RDV-006, Die 2 of 7

1988 1c RDV-006, Die 7 of 7

1988-D 1c RDV-006, Die 1 of 3

1988-D 1c RDV-006, Die 2 of 3

1988-D 1c RDV-006, Die 3 of 3

These varieties are worth GOOD MONEY.  We're talking 50 bucks for a 1988, a hundred bucks and up for a 1988-D uncirculated specimen. 
These are well worth pulling out of rolls for close inspection.  Since the difference between the RDV-005 and RDV-006 is the flared G in the designers initials, I recommend at least a 20x loupe, with a 30x being optimum for identifying this variety.

1992
The RDV-006 Reverse Design was used from 1988 to 1992.  A new reverse design, RDV-007, was to begin in 1993, but as happened in 1988, use of the new design began prematurely at Philadelphia and Denver.  This new reverse design featured a very tiny gap between the A and M in America.  They are nearly touching.  It became known as the Close AM variety (CAM) as seen above.  In addition, the designers initials, FG, were moved further from the memorial and the horizontal serif removed from the G.  Fivaz and Stanton attribute this variety as 1992-FS-901 and 1992D-FS-901.  Variety Vista lists them:

1992 1c RDV-007, Die 1 of 1

1992-D 1c RDV-007, Die 1 of 1 
Wexler has 2 attributed dies for 1992-D

ALERT!
John Wexler has attributed a 2nd 1992-D Close AM die pair.
See Ken Potter's article in the Numismatic News, July 28, 2017

With a single die used at each mint, these are quite scarce.  Accordingly, the values listed in various price guides is correspondingly delightful, in the mid hundreds.  The 1992-D is the less populous and more valuable of this pair. 
The difference between the Wide AM on the RDV-006 and the Close AM RDV-007 is substantial.  If your eyesight is good, you can identify this variety without assistance.  If you need assistance, a $2 5x magnifying glass from Walmart is good enough to do the job. 

1996
Reports of 1996 WAMs are unsubstantiated and all claims have been debunked.  Such a coin does not exist.

1998, 1999, 2000
Production of business strikes using the RDV-007 CAM reverse continued from 1992 through the end of the design in 2008.  For whatever reason, the old RDV-006 Reverse Design resurfaced in Philadelphia in 1998, 1999, and 2000. 
The new children of the family do not have a listing on Variety Vista, Coppercoins, or Wexler.  Fivaz and Stanton attribute these as FS-01-(year)-901.
1998 WAM, harder to find than the 2000 WAM, but they are out there.  $5-$20.
1999 WAM, the hardest to find and most valuable, good for a few hundred bucks!
2000 WAM, the easiest to find, good for $20 in uncirculated

Brilliant Uncirculated 2000 WAM found in circulation by Denise Catania

1998-S and 1999-S Proof
1993 was the only year the CAM was to be used on Proof issues, returning to the WAM design from 1994 through 2008.  This was not to be, with the RDV-007 once again showing up in 1998 and 1999, this time in San Fransisco. 
CPG: FS-01-(date)-901.
1998-S 1c RDV-007
1999-S 1c RDV-007

1998-S Proof CAM, CPG lists prices ranging from $100-300
1999-S Proof CAM, CPG lists prices in the 75-150 range

In all of these varieties there are only 2 designs that matter:  WAMs and CAMs.  That 1988 from way back...that's the same reverse as the 1998/99/2000 WAM.  It should be called 1988 WAM.  Since the change from the previous design is identifiable only from the FG, I will call it 1988 WAM-FG

We are looking for 5 Wide AM varieties:
1988 WAM-FG
1988-D WAM-FG
1998 WAM
1999 WAM
2000 WAM

We are looking for 4 Close AM varieties:
1992 CAM
1992-D CAM
1998-S CLAM
1999-S CLAM
So as not to be confused with CAMeo Proof I have taken it upon myself to add the L

IDENTIFICATION
There are 4 primary distinctions between WAMs and CAMs

1. Distance between A and M
2. Distance between designer's initials and Memorial
3. Presence or Absence of horizontal bar on the G in the designer's initials
4. The Distance between the A in States and the neighboring Ts.

You can see the distance between the A and M in the photos at the top of this article.  On the WAM, the distance is about the width of the leg of the M.  On the CAM, they are almost touching.  You would be hard pressed to fit a sheet of paper through the gap.
You can compare your WAM to the reverse of a 1990 or 1991.  Both P and D of those years will have the RDV-006, which was the intended design variety for those years.  For the CAM reverse, RDV-007, compare with the reverse of any business strike from 1993 through 2008.

 Close AM, The distance is about the same as height of the F

The designer's initials can be identified with geometry.  On the CAM, the FG is further from the memorial.  Look to the side of the F.  If you can imagine drawing a square with that side, it would fit between the FG and the memorial.  On a WAM, the FG is closer.  Using that same side of the F, you would have a tall rectangle.

WAM, Wide AM, The distance is less than the height of the F

Compare the G in the FG. 
On the CAM (top photo) there is no horizontal Bar.
The WAM has a horizontal bar, the vertical flare is more prominent, and the upper curve points downward.

For 1988 and 1988-D, this variety is the Big Money.

RDV-006, The WAM design.
Note the distance between the bottom of the A in states and the neighboring Ts is equal.

RDV-007, The CAM reverse design.
Note the bottom of the A in States is closer to the 2nd T.











Prospects For Future Value
I am of the opinion that these varieties are important enough to have earned a place in Dansco and Whitman albums. They both have 55 DDO and 72 DDO, and WAMs much easier, although still tough, to find.  Should those companies make the decision to add representation of these RDVs to their albums, demand for these varieties will immediately surge. That $5 AU will jump. That Handsome MS-64RD found by Denise Catania  will explode way past the $20 mark it is at today.
The CAMs and WAMs are one big happy family that need representation and recognition. When it arrives, you'll do well to have gathered as many as you can.


Further reading
Lincoln Cent Forum: 1988, 1992, 1998, 1999, and 2000: Wrong design dies on cents
Wexler: Transitional Design Variety Listings

Chuck Daughtrey found a 1992 Close AM which proved to be a fake.  See his video:

Confusing Names
In regards to the 1988 and 1988-D reverse designs, there exists a great deal of onfusion.  At issue is the inherent lack of nomenclature standards among the several attribution and certification entities.

PCGS calls it Wide Am and cross references The Cherrypickers Guide FS-901
http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/Coin/Detail/569367

NGC calls it the Reverse of 1989 and cross references CONECA RDV-006.  On the 1998, 1999, and 2000 varieties NGC calls it Wide "AM" and cross references FS-901.
https://www.ngccoin.com/variety-plus/united-states/cents/1717/

CONECA describes it as a transitional design variety and cross references FS-901
http://varietyvista.com/01b%20LC%20Doubled%20Dies%20Vol%202/1988PRDV0061.htm

The Cherrypickers Guide calls it a Reverse Design Change and cross refereces CONECA RDV-006.

Wexler uses LMRD-006, Lincoln Memorial Reverse Design and also cross references CONECA RDV-006
http://doubleddie.com/278743.html

Crawford uses CTRD-001, Crawford Transitional Reverse Design and cross references Wexler's WTRD before Wexler changed to LMRD.
Later in the book, Crawford calls it a Wide AM, classifies it as a Type 2 Wide AM Variety and cross references FS-901