1922-S VAM-13
Error
Description
The 1922-S VAM-13, classified as II1 - B2a (Ray Thru Mountain), was discovered in 2013 by David Close and is rated I-3 R-6 with only 1 to 12 specimens known. This variety's signature feature is a ray that was engraved to extend through the left side of the middle mountain on the reverse, created when the die was reworked to strengthen rays at die clash marks located to the right of the olive leaves. Such deliberate die recutting was a common Mint practice to extend die life after clashing damage, but in this case the engraver inadvertently extended a ray line into the mountain design element. A reliable die marker for attribution is a long diagonal polishing line visible above the letters LAR in DOLLAR. The San Francisco Mint struck 17.5 million Peace dollars in 1922, yet the R-6 rarity of this variety suggests the responsible die pair saw limited use. Intentional die modifications like the recut ray offer a window into early twentieth-century Mint shop practices.
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