1922-D VAM-1D

Description

Featuring a prominent die break through the letter Y in LIBERTY, VAM-1D of the 1922-D Peace Dollar was discovered by Eric Justice in June 2001. Cataloged as 1D II 1 B1a, the obverse displays a die break extending from the rim at the left of Y through the top of the letter and continuing to the right toward the rim. This is similar to VAM-1C but positioned higher through the Y, with the break traversing the upper portion rather than the lower section. Die breaks on Peace Dollars are common because Anthony de Francisci's bold high-relief design placed extreme stress on working dies, accelerating structural fatigue. Where the die broke away, planchet metal extruded into the gap during striking, leaving a raised irregular mass on the finished coin. The 1922-D Peace Dollar had the highest mintage of any Denver Peace Dollar at over 15 million coins, making the base date common while specific die-break varieties like VAM-1D require targeted searching. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper at 26.73 grams, this variety documents a high-position die break through Y in LIBERTY distinguishable from the lower break on VAM-1C.

External References