1927-D VAM-1B

Description

Discovered in August 2015 by Thomas Petrosie, the 1927-D VAM-1B Peace Dollar displays a collar clash on the reverse — an uncommon variety type where the reeded edge of the collar die impressed itself onto the coin's face rather than remaining confined to the edge. The collar clash appears below the mountains on the reverse, spanning from roughly the 4:30 to 6:00 position, creating a partial arc of reeding marks visible on what should be smooth field area. Collar clashes occur when the collar — the ring-shaped die that forms the coin's edge — shifts slightly out of alignment during striking, allowing its reeded interior surface to contact the planchet's face rather than only its edge. Classified as II1 B2a with an I-2 interest level and R-5 rarity, this variety represents an estimated 31 to 200 known specimens. The 1927-D Peace Dollar is itself a lower-mintage Denver Mint issue, and the addition of a collar clash variety adds collecting interest to an already significant date. Collar clashes are less commonly documented than standard die clashes because they involve the third die element — the collar — which is often overlooked in variety attribution. The 1927-D VAM-1B stands as a reminder that die varieties extend beyond the paired obverse and reverse dies to encompass all components of the striking assembly.

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