1926-S VAM-1B1

Description

Originally discovered by David Close and revised in 2014, the 1926-S VAM-1B1 Peace Dollar features a vertical die gouge below the E in LIBERTY on the obverse, classified as II 1 - B2a with an interest level of I-2 and a rarity rating of R-5, estimating 30 to 75 surviving examples. The die gouge is a localized defect in the working die surface — a small chip, pit, or depression that transfers to struck coins as a raised mark or bump in the corresponding position. A vertical gouge below the E in LIBERTY sits in a visually accessible location that can be confirmed under moderate magnification. The reverse is classified as B2a, and notably, the catalog records that this is the same reverse die used for VAMs 1K, 1H, and 1C, but in its latest die state. This die lineage information is valuable because it establishes the emission sequence — the chronological order in which varieties were struck from shared dies. The fact that VAM-1B1 uses the latest state of this reverse die means it was produced after the other three varieties, near the end of the die's service life when accumulated wear and deterioration had advanced beyond the earlier documented states. San Francisco struck approximately 6.98 million Peace Dollars in 1926, making the 1926-S reasonably available in overall terms. Close's subsequent 2014 revision, splitting the original entry or refining its attribution, reflects the ongoing maintenance and refinement of the VAM catalog as new information and additional examples come to light.

External References