1924-S VAM-2

Description

Discovered by Jeff Oxman in April 1999, the 1924-S VAM-2 "Low S" Peace dollar documents a reverse die variety where the micro I S mintmark sits noticeably lower than the standard position beneath the eagle's tail feathers. Cataloged as 2 II 1 · B2b (Low S) with die classification I-3 and rarity rating R-4 (estimated 131-300 known), this variety falls within the moderately scarce range that sustains active collector interest. Anthony de Francisci's Peace dollar design debuted in 1921 as a celebration of the armistice ending World War I, with the obverse featuring a youthful Liberty crowned by rays and the reverse displaying a perched eagle above the word PEACE with the Latin inscription TRVST replacing the traditional TRUST. San Francisco struck approximately 1.73 million Peace dollars in 1924, a modest mintage that makes any documented die variety from this date-mint combination significant. The Reverse B2b designation identifies a normal die of the B2 type with the distinctive low-set micro I S mintmark — "micro I" referring to the specific mintmark punch style used at the San Francisco facility, and the low positioning providing the primary diagnostic for separating VAM-2 from the normal-mintmark VAM-1. Collectors should compare the vertical relationship between the S mintmark and the eagle's tail feathers against reference images, as the displacement is most apparent when viewed alongside a standard-position example. The R-4 rarity ensures specimens surface regularly enough for collectors to pursue this variety without extraordinary difficulty.

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