1923-D VAM-1AB2

Description

Discovered by Larry Briggs in May 2004, the 1923-D VAM-1AB2 "Die Break Above B" Peace dollar documents a short diagonal die break at the rim above the letter B in LIBERTY on Anthony de Francisci's obverse design, with an associated crack extending over to the bottom of the letters ER. The full catalog designation reads 1AB2 II 1 · B2a (Die Break Below OD, Above B) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-6 (estimated 13-30 known), and the expanded title indicates the break also relates to the area below OD — suggesting the die failure zone encompasses the region from above B through the bottom of ER and extends toward the OD of GOD in the motto. Denver struck approximately 6.81 million Peace dollars in 1923, a moderate mintage that subjected working dies to millions of striking cycles during production. Die breaks at the rim develop where the die steel is most vulnerable — the edge zone where the die face meets the collar and where outward metal flow during striking creates maximum lateral pressure. The short diagonal character of the break indicates an angled fracture path rather than the horizontal or vertical orientations more commonly seen, and the crack's extension from the break point through the bottom of ER traces the fracture propagation into the adjacent design area. The 1AB2 suffix (following 1AB1) indicates this is the second die state or sub-variety within the VAM-1AB classification, suggesting the die break progressed or additional characteristics developed between the two documented states. At R-6 rarity, only 13-30 specimens are estimated to survive. Larry Briggs's extensive Peace dollar research during the early 2000s produced numerous die break and die crack variety discoveries. Collectors should examine the rim area above B in LIBERTY under 10x magnification, looking for the raised diagonal ridge and tracing the crack line through the bottom of ER.

External References