1922-P VAM-1K

Description

Discovered by Herb Zepke in May 2003, the 1922-P VAM-1K "Comet Die Break Below P" Peace dollar records a small die break with a tail at the end of a ray below the letter P in PLURIBUS on the reverse of Anthony de Francisci's design — a defect whose catalog name evokes the visual appearance of a tiny comet streaking through the sunburst field. Cataloged as 1K II 1 - B1a (Comet Die Break Below P) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (approximately 30-75 known), this variety documents a distinctive die failure in a precise location on the reverse. Philadelphia produced approximately 51.74 million Peace dollars in 1922, the series' highest annual mintage, generating enormous die consumption that accounts for the extraordinary volume of documented VAM sub-varieties. The "comet" die break describes a small area of die steel failure — a chip or crack — combined with a trailing tail element, likely a short die crack extending from the break point along or near a radial ray. The visual result on struck coins is a small raised blob with a trailing raised line, creating the comet-like appearance that inspired the catalog name. Die breaks of this type develop when localized stress exceeds the die steel's capacity, and the trailing tail follows a stress line or existing weakness in the die surface. The position below P in PLURIBUS places this defect in the upper reverse field among the radial sunburst rays, where the geometric regularity of the ray pattern makes any anomalous raised element readily apparent. The Reverse B1a classification identifies a specific reverse die type distinct from the more common B2 variants, providing an additional identification checkpoint. Herb Zepke's May 2003 discovery contributed to the early 2000s expansion of Peace dollar VAM research. Collectors should examine the reverse below the P of PLURIBUS under 15x magnification for the distinctive comet-shaped raised defect.

External References