1927-P VAM-1A

Description

Discovered in October 2011 by Brent Fogelberg, the 1927-P Peace Dollar VAM-1A is designated "Die Chip Hair" for a small vertical die chip in the lower hair near the rear of Liberty's neck on Anthony de Francisci's obverse. Classified as 1A II1 - B2a with an I-2 interest rating and R-5 rarity, this variety has an estimated population of 13 to 30 confirmed specimens. Die chips occur when a small fragment of die steel breaks away from the working surface, leaving a void that fills with planchet metal during striking and appears as a small raised lump on the finished coin. The vertical orientation and placement in the lower hair near the nape of the neck differentiates this chip from other hair-area defects cataloged across the Peace Dollar series. As the first sub-variety of the VAM-1 die marriage for 1927, VAM-1A shares the baseline die pairing but carries this distinctive chip as its sole identifying feature. The 1927 Philadelphia Mint produced 848,000 Peace Dollars — one of the lower mintages in the series, enhancing collector interest. Cataloged within the VAM system developed by Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis, this regular strike was produced in 90% silver at 26.73 grams on 38.1mm planchets. Look for the small raised vertical lump in the lower hair near the rear of the neck.

External References