1921-S VAM-1B4
Error
Description
Discovered by Herb Zepke in March 2002 and revised in 2011, this San Francisco Morgan dollar is cataloged as VAM-1B4 (revised) under classification IV 1 with a D2a reverse, titled Thorn Head Die Gouge, Die State 5, carrying a rarity rating of 189 and a Hit List 40 designation. This fifth die gouge state in the Thornhead series shows a prominent die gouge added between I and B in LIBERTY, a diagonal die gouge added between N and U in UNUM, and a short thin gouge in the denticles next to the fourth left star. Since 1921 dates were part of the master die, no date position variation exists. The Thornhead designation refers to a distinctive series of progressive die gouges that developed on this obverse die, with each successive state adding new gouges while retaining earlier ones. The Hit List 40 status reflects collector demand for this dramatic die deterioration sequence. Related die states include VAM-1B4A, VAM-1B3A, and other entries on the main 1921-S Thornhead page, forming an extended family of progressively damaged varieties from a single obverse die.
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