1921-P VAM-1Z

Description

Struck in the only year of Anthony de Francisci's High Relief Peace Dollar design, this 90% silver dollar carries the VAM-1Z designation under Classification I1, Aa. The variety features a line in the numeral 2 of the date along with heavy polishing on the lower reverse, indicating Mint personnel extensively polished the die surface to extend its service life. Discovered by Chuck Emery in 2012, VAM-1Z shares the same obverse die as VAM-1P, establishing a documented shared die relationship between the two varieties. The cataloger notes this is not a Satin Proof die, distinguishing it from the small number of specially prepared proof strikings known for the 1921 Peace Dollar. Only 1,006,473 High Relief Peace Dollars were struck before the Mint abandoned the design in favor of a lower-relief version for 1922 onward, making 1921 the sole year of this distinctive raised format. The high relief design caused significant production difficulties including die breakage and difficulty stacking, prompting the rapid transition. The word TRVST appears on the reverse rather than TRUST, a classical Latin touch integral to de Francisci's original vision.

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