1922-S VAM-1AP

Description

Discovered in 2017 by David Close, the 1922-S VAM-1AP "Collar Clash 9-10 O'clock" Peace dollar documents an unusual minting error where reeding impressions from the collar transferred onto the coin's rim area. Cataloged as 1AP II1 · B1a (Collar Clash 9-10 O'clock) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (approximately 30-75 known), this variety captures a mechanical event distinct from typical die clashes. A collar clash occurs when the collar — the circular steel ring that surrounds the planchet during striking and impresses the reeded edge pattern — contacts the die face in an area it should not reach, transferring its reeding pattern as indentations onto the die surface near the rim. These transferred reeding marks then appear as raised ridges on subsequently struck coins in the affected zone. The reverse B1a designation indicates the diagnostic appears on the reverse, where collar clash reeding indents are visible on the edge of the rim between approximately the 9 and 10 o'clock positions, above a rim cud at the word ONE. Anthony de Francisci's Peace dollar reverse, featuring the perched eagle above PEACE with ONE visible near the lower rim, provides the location context. San Francisco struck approximately 17.48 million Peace dollars in 1922, and this collar clash represents a relatively uncommon error type within the VAM catalog, where die clashes and die breaks are far more frequently documented than collar-related anomalies. David Close, a prolific contributor to Peace dollar VAM research, identified the distinctive reeding pattern transfer that distinguishes this variety from other 1922-S rim irregularities. Collectors should examine the reverse rim area between 9 and 10 o'clock under 10-15x magnification, looking for parallel raised ridges that replicate the spacing and orientation of the coin's edge reeding.

External References