1924-P VAM-1AK2

Description

Discovered in 2016 by David Close, the 1924-P VAM-1AK2 Peace Dollar combines a pitted obverse with a significant die break between the M and E in AMERICA on the reverse. Classified as 1AK2 II1 - B2a with an importance rating of I-2 and a rarity rating of R-5, this variety falls into scarce territory with an estimated 75 to 200 surviving examples. The reverse die B2a displays a radial die crack extending between ME in AMERICA from the rim, crossing over toward the eagle's head, accompanied by a slight displaced field break between the letters — evidence of progressive die failure that had begun compromising the die's structural integrity. The "Pitted Obverse #2" designation indicates that the obverse die surface had developed pitting, which appears as small raised dots or rough areas on struck coins, typically caused by rust or corrosion forming on the die face between production runs or during storage. The 1924-P Peace Dollar had a mintage of 11,811,000, struck entirely at the Philadelphia Mint. David Close has been a prolific contributor to Peace Dollar VAM research, discovering numerous varieties across the series. The R-5 rarity rating makes this a genuinely scarce piece within the VAM-1A die family, and the combination of obverse pitting with a reverse die break provides two independent diagnostic features for attribution. The displaced field break between ME suggests that die metal had begun to shift along the crack line, creating a subtle step or displacement visible under magnification — a precursor to more severe die failure that would eventually render the die unusable.

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