1922-S VAM-1I

Description

Discovered by David Close, the 1922-S VAM-1I Peace Dollar is designated "Polishing Lines Obverse, Beveled Field Hair Front" with the revised classification II 1 / B1a and rarity ratings of I-2 and R-5, estimating between 31 and 75 surviving specimens. The obverse die (type II 1) exhibits extensive coarse polishing lines covering all of the fields — evidence of aggressive die maintenance where a Mint technician polished the entire obverse die surface, likely to remove die clash marks or other surface defects that had accumulated during production. Additionally, the field at the hair front is beveled, with slight beveling also visible below the R in LIBERTY — a condition where the die surface near the design elements was ground at an angle, creating a gradual slope rather than a sharp junction between the field and the design relief. These beveled areas often result from localized polishing intended to remove specific defects near high-relief design elements. The B1a reverse assignment differs from the more common B2a pairing seen on many 1922-S VAMs, indicating a distinct reverse die in this marriage. The San Francisco Mint produced approximately 17.5 million Peace Dollars in 1922, and the extensive polishing documented on this obverse die suggests it experienced significant service issues requiring maintenance before continued use. David Close's discovery of this variety demonstrates how systematic die study reveals not just manufacturing errors but also evidence of die maintenance practices at early 20th century Mint facilities. The R-5 rarity confirms that this die saw limited production before retirement, consistent with a die that required extensive polishing — such dies were often withdrawn earlier than unpolished counterparts.

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