1924-P VAM-1AX

Description

Revealing direct evidence of Mint die repair, the 1924-P VAM-1AX was discovered by Larry Briggs in 2010 and preserves die file lines in the reverse fields — lines deliberately applied to remove die clash marks. Designated 1AX II1 with reverse die B2a (Die Scratch File Lines Reverse), rated I-2 for interest and R-5 for rarity (an estimated 1,001 to 3,000 surviving), this variety records a specific maintenance procedure: when the obverse and reverse dies struck each other without a planchet, ghost impressions transferred to the opposing die. Rather than retire the clashed dies, Mint personnel filed the affected areas to remove the unwanted impressions, leaving parallel file lines as evidence. These lines transfer as fine raised ridges on every coin subsequently struck. The presence of file lines confirms that a clash event occurred and was addressed before the die returned to service — making this a two-event artifact documenting both a clash and its remediation. De Francisci's Peace Dollar was in its third year at Philadelphia, struck in 90% silver at 38.1mm. Examine the reverse fields for parallel raised ridges indicating the file work that erased the original clash marks.

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