1924-S VAM-1S

Description

Discovered in 2021 by jrfaust, the 1924-S VAM-1S Peace Dollar carries the classification II 1 - B2a for Shortened Two Front Rays, Beveled Hair Bun Edge, with rarity ratings of I-2 R-5 indicating an estimated 100 to 250 surviving specimens. The obverse (II 1) displays a beveled field at the top edge of Liberty and the hair bun below the R in LIBERTY, where the polished hair front with shortened two front rays indicates deliberate die finishing that reduced the length of two sun rays emanating from Liberty's crown — likely an attempt to address die fill or striking issues. On the reverse (B2a), die file lines appear at the eagle's left shoulder and in the right field, applied to reduce clash marks from a prior die clash event. The 1924-S Peace Dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint from a mintage of 1,728,000 coins — the second-lowest San Francisco mintage in the Peace Dollar series — in 90% silver (10% copper) at 26.73 grams, 38.1 mm diameter with a reeded edge. Anthony de Francisci's Peace Dollar design features Liberty wearing a radiant crown whose rays extend outward, and any variation in ray length or configuration becomes a meaningful attribution point. The die filing to reduce reverse clash marks demonstrates the routine maintenance measures Mint personnel employed to extend die life, and the visible remnants of these interventions become permanent features of every coin struck subsequently.

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