1926-S VAM-1C

Description

Discovered by Eric Justice in May 2001 and revised by D. Close in 2014, VAM-1C for the 1926-S Peace Dollar is classified II 1 with reverse B2a under the designation "Polished Obverse," carrying rarity ratings of I-3, R-6. The obverse was excessively polished, producing raised lines in the field above IN GOD WE extending up to the sun rays and in the area behind Liberty's hair bun — evidence that a Mint worker aggressively smoothed the die surface, removing enough metal to create visible ridges on struck coins. The reverse die is identified as the same die used for VAMs 1K, 1H, and 1B1, with the die state falling between 1H and 1B1 in the emission sequence — a detail that helps establish the chronological order in which these die marriages were produced. San Francisco struck only 1.94 million Peace Dollars in 1926, the lowest mintage of any Peace Dollar date-mint, making any 1926-S variety inherently scarce. The R-6 rarity rating (estimated 13-30 known) confirms that few specimens have been documented, consistent with the low base mintage.

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