1922-D VAM-1AJ

Description

Steve Dawson's 2016 discovery added VAM-1AJ to the extensive catalog of 1922-D Peace dollar die varieties, documenting a combination of obverse die damage and reverse die maintenance evidence. The obverse carries a die crack running from Liberty's lower neck, arcing above the digit 1 in the date, then threading through the letter N and climbing to the rim — with a notable displaced-field break above the numeral 1 that creates a raised disruption in the otherwise smooth field area. On the reverse, mostly horizontal die file lines are visible on the lower portion of the letters ACE in PEACE, extending down to the rim. These file lines represent physical evidence of die polishing — a common Mint practice to remove surface irregularities or incipient cracks from a die face, extending its useful life at the cost of leaving linear tool marks in the finished design. The 1922-D mintage of approximately 15.1 million pieces was the largest Denver production in the Peace dollar series, generating numerous working die pairs and a correspondingly rich catalog of VAM varieties. Classified as II 1 B2a, this die marriage offers researchers a clear example of progressive die failure alongside contemporaneous maintenance intervention.

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