1926-S VAM-1S

Description

Discovered in 2012, VAM-1S identifies a 1926-S Peace dollar die marriage characterized by die file lines accompanied by vertical die gouges positioned below the letter R in LIBERTY on the obverse. Cataloged as II1 - B2a with rarity R-5 (estimated 30 to 75 surviving pieces) and interest level I-2, this variety preserves evidence of die maintenance work — the file lines indicate the die surface was dressed or polished during its service life, and the vertical gouges below R represent additional die anomalies that may have resulted from the same maintenance event or from subsequent die handling. San Francisco's 1926 Peace dollar mintage of 6.98 million coins provided a moderate population from which these relatively scarce varieties survive. The LIBERTY inscription runs along the upper obverse border on Anthony de Francisci's design, with each letter positioned above Liberty's radiant crown. Die file lines in the area below R suggest a mint worker filed the die surface in that region, possibly to remove a die clash impression or smooth a developing die crack. The vertical gouges superimposed on the file lines create a compound diagnostic that makes VAM-1S readily distinguishable from other 1926-S LIBERTY-area varieties like VAM-1B (die gouge below E) and VAM-1N (die scratch below R). Collectors should examine the field area immediately beneath the R in LIBERTY under magnification, looking for both the parallel file lines and the vertical gouge impressions that define this variety.

External References