1926-S VAM-1AG

Description

Discovered by Jody Faust in October 2017, the 1926-S VAM-1AG Peace Dollar is classified as 1AG II1 – B2a (Die File Lines Obverse & Reverse With Spots Below B & Neck Top) with an impact rating of I-3 and a rarity of R-5, placing it in the moderately scarce category within the Peace Dollar variety spectrum. The obverse (II1) is dominated by die file lines distributed across the fields and over the Liberty head, with particularly heavy vertical file lines between the rays below the B of LIBERTY and heavy horizontal file lines at a spot in the hair at the top right of the neck — two orientation-specific filing patterns that indicate deliberate die surface preparation or clash mark removal using hand filing techniques applied in different directions on different areas of the die. The reverse (B2a) mirrors the obverse treatment with die file lines visible in the fields and on the eagle, confirming that both dies in this pairing underwent maintenance filing that left permanent linear striations across their working surfaces. The bilateral file line coverage — affecting both dies extensively rather than being localized to specific design elements — suggests a comprehensive die maintenance event where the Mint press operator or die maintenance staff addressed surface issues across the entire die pair simultaneously. Anthony de Francisci's Peace Dollar design was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1926 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. The Peace Dollar's high-relief Liberty head and eagle motifs, with their broad field areas and flowing design elements, make die file lines particularly visible because the lines cross open surfaces where they stand out against the expected smooth finish, unlike coins with busier designs where such marks might be partially obscured by design detail.

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