1924-P VAM-1AP

Description

Among the dozens of minor obverse die varieties cataloged for the 1924 Philadelphia Peace dollar, VAM-1AP isolates a die bearing vertical scratches at the top-left portion of the W in WE on Anthony de Francisci's obverse. Classified as die state II 1 with reverse die designation B2a, this variety carries rarity rating I-2 with a population estimate of R-5, placing the known surviving examples somewhere between 30 and 75 pieces — a thin margin that makes confirmed specimens genuinely scarce in the VAM collecting community. Philadelphia struck approximately 11.8 million Peace dollars in 1924, a moderate mintage that falls below the series peak of 51.7 million set by the 1922-P but well above the key-date lows. Die scratches at the W in WE represent a positional die marker rather than a hub-doubling variety; these scratches were incised into the working die surface during its preparation or maintenance, creating incuse lines on the finished coin that serve as unmistakable fingerprints for attributing the die. Collectors examining 1924-P Peace dollars should focus their magnification on the upper-left serif and surrounding field area of the W, where the vertical orientation of the scratches distinguishes this die from others that may show diagonal or horizontal die preparation marks in the same zone. The B2a reverse pairing indicates a late-style reverse die consistent with the majority of 1924 production.

External References