1925-S VAM-1J

Description

Cataloged as a die break variety on the 90% silver 1925-S Peace Dollar, VAM-1J is classified as II1, B2a with a rarity of I-2 R-6. The die break manifests as a crack running above the word PEACE, continuing through the mintmark area and extending to the O in ONE, tracing a path across the lower reverse that documents progressive die failure during the San Francisco production run. Discovered in 2013, this variety captures a late die state where accumulated striking pressure had fractured the reverse die along a stress line spanning multiple design elements. The 1925-S carries particular significance as a lower-mintage issue with just 1.61 million pieces struck, making it one of the scarcer regular-issue Peace Dollars. That modest output means fewer dies were employed, and varieties like VAM-1J represent a meaningful fraction of the total die pairs used. The Peace Dollar's reverse bears the word TRVST rather than TRUST, a deliberate design choice by Anthony de Francisci. At R-6 rarity, surviving examples of this die break state remain elusive even among dedicated Peace Dollar VAM specialists. =1925-S VAM-1J= Discovery 2013 1J II1 - B2a (Die Break Neck) I-2 R-6 Obverse II1 - Horizontal die crack across lower front of neck over to above 1 with displaced field break at neck.

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