1921-P Peace VAM-1AA

Description

Discovered by David Close in 2012, the 1921 Peace Dollar VAM-1AA documents a collar clash on the obverse of the celebrated high-relief first-year issue. Collar clash reeding marks appear on the rim above TY of LIBERTY, where the coin's edge-reeding collar improperly contacted the obverse die face (die I1/Aa). The die marker includes polishing lines above RT on the obverse, suggesting the die received surface finishing during preparation. The 1921 Peace Dollar holds unique status as the only year struck in high relief — Anthony de Francisci's original design featured dramatically sculptural depth that proved impractical for mass production, leading to the lowered relief adopted for all subsequent years (1922-1935). Collar clash varieties from the high-relief issue are particularly noteworthy because the extreme depth of the design placed greater stress on both the dies and the collar mechanism. With its combination of first-year status, high-relief format, and the unusual collar clash error, VAM-1AA appeals to both Peace Dollar specialists and error coin collectors.

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