1924-S VAM-1K

Description

This San Francisco Mint Peace Dollar variety, discovered in 2012 and cataloged by VAMWorld, carries the designation VAM-1K with classification 1K II1 - B2a (Die Scratch T, Collar Clash) at I-2 and R-6 rarity — the R-6 indicating an estimated surviving population of 30 to 100 known examples. The obverse II1 die displays a die scratch at the letter T in LIBERTY, matching the die scratch pattern previously identified on VAM-1C, while the reverse B2a die shows collar clash marks above UNITED STATES, the same collar clash documented on VAM-1F. Collector notes indicate VAM-1K is a duplicate listing of the 1924-S VAM-1C2, meaning the same die pair was initially cataloged twice under different designations before the overlap was recognized. Collar clashing transfers the parallel reed impressions from the collar die onto the flat working die surface, creating raised parallel lines on struck coins that appear above the reverse lettering. The 1924-S Peace Dollar had a mintage of approximately 1.73 million coins, the lowest San Francisco output for the date and a figure that contributes to the scarcity reflected in the R-6 rating. San Francisco was the final western mint producing Peace Dollars after the Carson City Mint's closure in 1893, and its dies endured the full production run without relief from a second western facility, increasing the likelihood of die fatigue and maintenance artifacts.

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