1927-S VAM-1I

Description

Discovered by Bill Toland in August 2011 and documented by VAMWorld, VAM-1I is a die gouge variety of the 1927 San Francisco Peace Dollar, carrying the classification II1 – B2a with interest rating I-3 and rarity R-6. The primary obverse feature is a cluster of die gouges at the top of Liberty's hair bun — short, irregular machined cuts in the die face that transfer as raised ridges on struck coins at the corresponding position on the hair bun. These gouges are accompanied by a slightly beveled field at the front of the hair, where the die polishing has thinned the transition between the hair relief and the surrounding field. Together, these two features create a distinctive appearance at the upper bun and anterior hair region that distinguishes VAM-1I from the closely related VAM-1B, which shares a very similar obverse die profile. Collectors and attributors must compare carefully against both VAM-1B and VAM-1I plates, as the similarity noted in the documentation makes visual discrimination between the two varieties among the finer distinctions in the 1927-S Peace Dollar series. The R-6 rarity rating underscores the genuine scarcity of confirmed VAM-1I specimens — fewer than thirty examples are estimated to exist — making this one of the more elusive attributions within the 1927 San Francisco Peace Dollar series. Examination of the upper hair bun under directed magnification is the recommended first step when screening candidates.

External References