SHD-100c-1922D-01 Shattered Die

Description

Cross-referenced to VAM-2A-2 (formerly designated VAM 2A), this 1922-D Peace dollar shattered die variety represents one of the most dramatic forms of die failure documented in American numismatics. A shattered die occurs when the working die develops such extensive cracking that the entire die face is fragmented into multiple sections, with every resulting coin showing a web of raised cracks across the design. Cataloged by Cuds on Coins as SHD-100c-1922D-01, this specimen is further distinguished by the planchet having been multiple struck, adding a second layer of error interest atop the already spectacular shattered die condition. The 1922-D Peace dollar, designed by Anthony de Francisci, was struck at the Denver Mint with a production of 15.1 million pieces. Peace dollars from Denver are well-studied within the VAM (Van Allen-Mallis) classification system, and the cross-reference to VAM-2A-2 provides collectors with an alternative identification pathway through the established Morgan and Peace dollar variety cataloging framework. Shattered dies typically represent the extreme terminal state of a die's life, when management should have retired the die but continued pressing coins either due to production demands, oversight, or the difficulty of detecting advanced die deterioration during high-speed minting operations. The combination of a fully shattered die with multiple strikes creates a coin that tells a vivid story of catastrophic mechanical failure at the Denver Mint during a period of heavy silver dollar production mandated by the Pittman Act of 1918. Specimens exhibiting both the shattered die web pattern and multiple-strike displacement are exceptionally rare survivors.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jeff Ylitalo
• Cross reference: VAM-2A-2 (formerly VAM 2A). Cross reference: none. A spectacular shattered die with the planchet being multiple struck.
• Expert attribution by Cuds on Coins

External References