1926-D VAM-4

Description

Brought to light in 2017 by Jody Faust, this 1926-D Peace Dollar VAM-4 carries the classification II3 - B2a with a rarity rating of I-3, R-5, placing the estimated population at 1 to 30 known specimens. The variety is defined by slight hub doubling on the date numerals 2 and 6 — specifically, the 2 shows doubling at the top inside of the upper loop and the 6 at the top inside of the lower loop — along with slight doubling on the horizontal bar of the designer's initials. The consistency of the doubling positions within the interior curves of the date numerals indicates a minor rotational shift between hub impressions during die manufacture. While the doubling is described as slight, the specific locations within the loops of the 2 and 6 provide reliable attribution points under magnification. The 1926-D Peace Dollar had a mintage of over 2.3 million pieces, yet the R-5 rarity of this variety indicates that the specific working die saw limited use or that the subtle doubling has caused most examples to go unrecognized. Faust's 2017 discovery, decades after the peak of Peace Dollar VAM research, illustrates how careful examination continues to yield new die varieties.

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