1926-S VAM-1A
Error
Description
Discovered by David Close in November 1999, VAM-1A on the 1926-S Peace Dollar features a vertical die gouge on the right side of the second top ray to the right of the B in LIBERTY. Classified as II 1 - B2a with I-3 interest level and R-6 rarity (13–30 known), this variety places its diagnostic marker on one of the radiating rays of Liberty's crown — a design element central to Anthony de Francisci's concept of peace and enlightenment following World War I. The vertical orientation of the gouge interrupts the ray's clean linear form, making it identifiable under moderate magnification. The 1926-S Peace Dollar was the second-to-last San Francisco issue in the series (only 1935-S followed), and R-6 varieties from this date represent genuinely scarce die marriages. David Close's prolific contributions to Peace Dollar VAM research have documented dozens of varieties across multiple dates, and VAM-1A demonstrates the meticulous examination required to catalog individual die gouges as collectible varieties.
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