1923-S VAM-1AO

Description

Discovered by David Close, the 1923-S Peace Dollar VAM-1AO features a thin, short die gouge positioned on the left side of the third tall ray from the front of Liberty's tiara on the obverse (die II 1), paired with reverse die B2a. Cataloged with an I-2 interest level and R-5 rarity, this variety's defining feature appears on one of the radiating rays of the crown worn by Anthony de Francisci's Liberty — the iconic tiara with its sunburst rays being one of the most distinctive elements of the Peace Dollar design. Die gouges on the tiara rays create small raised marks on struck coins that require careful examination under magnification to locate, and the precise description — third tall ray from the front, left side — provides the specific coordinates needed for confident attribution. The 1923-S was struck at the San Francisco Mint, and the Peace Dollar's radiating tiara rays have proven particularly useful as reference points for cataloging die gouge varieties, as their consistent spacing and distinct numbering allow for precise positional descriptions that enable collectors to verify the variety with certainty.

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