1922-S VAM-1AC

Description

Discovered in 2012 by David Close, the 1922-S VAM-1AC features two related obverse characteristics that document die maintenance activity: die file lines at BER in LIBERTY where the die was polished to remove die pitting (rust damage), and shortened front rays — two of the rays emanating from Liberty's crown were reduced in length from over-polishing. Both features result from the same maintenance event: die pitting at BER in LIBERTY required aggressive polishing to restore the die surface, and the polishing process inadvertently removed material from the adjacent rays, shortening them from their original length. The obverse is classified as Type II die 1 paired with a B1a reverse, rated I-2 R-5 (estimated 13-30 known). The connection between the pitting removal and the shortened rays tells a coherent story of die shop activity: moisture-induced corrosion created pits in the LIBERTY area, the die sinker filed the surface to remove the damage, and the filing extended into the ray area, permanently altering two design elements. The 1922 San Francisco Peace Dollar was produced in smaller quantities than the Philadelphia issue, and die maintenance varieties like this provide physical evidence of the decisions made by die sinkers to extend die life rather than retire and replace a damaged working die during production.

External References