1921-D VAM-1BM

Description

Discovered by Laurence Galbraith in May 2005, VAM-1BM for the 1921-D Morgan Dollar is classified IV 1 with reverse D2a, carrying the descriptive title "Die Gouges ST." The diagnostic feature is a diagonal die gouge running through the upper left of the first T in STATES on the reverse, accompanied by a short gouge at the top left of the first S — tool marks likely introduced during die finishing or maintenance at the Denver Mint facility. Since the 1921 date was engraved on the master die, no date position variation exists among working dies for this issue. Die gouges of this type result from physical contact between the die surface and sharp implements — polishing tools, burins, or foreign debris — during handling. The "1BM" suffix in the VAM numbering indicates this is a sub-variety branching from the VAM-1 die, where multiple reverse dies were paired with a single obverse during production. Denver's 1921 Morgan Dollar output of 20.3 million pieces generated extensive die usage, creating numerous opportunities for such incidental tool marks to develop.

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