1924-S VAM-4

Description

Discovered by David Close in January 2002, the 1924-S VAM-4 "Doubled Liberty Head Profile" Peace dollar documents a subtle but significant hub doubling event on Anthony de Francisci's iconic Liberty portrait. Cataloged as 4 II 2 · B2a (Doubled Liberty Head Profile) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (approximately 30-75 known), this variety exhibits slight doubling of Liberty's head profile running from the forehead down to the neck, with additional doubling visible on the left side of the letters WE in the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. San Francisco struck approximately 11.81 million Peace dollars in 1924, a moderate production run that generated sufficient die usage to allow hub doubling events to enter the coinage stream. The profile doubling on this variety is particularly noteworthy because it affects the primary design element itself rather than peripheral inscriptions — the continuous doubled contour from forehead to neck traces the entire forward edge of Liberty's face, creating a secondary outline that follows the sculptural curves of de Francisci's design. The Obverse II 2 die classification distinguishes this obverse from the more common Obverse II 1 configuration, providing an independent identification checkpoint beyond the doubling itself. David Close, a prolific Peace dollar VAM researcher active during the early 2000s, contributed numerous variety discoveries that expanded the catalog for S-mint dates where lower mintages concentrate collector attention. At R-5 rarity, confirmed specimens appear infrequently, and the subtle nature of the "slightly doubled" classification means the variety requires careful examination under 15-20x magnification with angled lighting that casts shadows along the displaced secondary profile line.

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