1923-D VAM-1AE1

Description

Discovered in 2011 and cataloged by VAMWorld, this 1923-D Peace Dollar is classified as 1AE II 1 - B2a (Die Break Left of 1 #2) I-2 R-6. The obverse displays a dramatic die crack running from the letter L downward through IN and over to the top of the numeral 1, then continuing from Liberty's head neck with a crack at the left of the 1 extending down to the rim, where the field is depressed from the die break. The field depression indicates that the die had begun to sink in the area of the break — as the die metal fatigued and the crack widened, the section of the die adjacent to the fracture dropped slightly, causing the corresponding area on struck coins to be raised relative to the normal field level. The "#2" suffix distinguishes this from another die break variety at the same location. The R-6 scarcity rating places surviving examples at approximately 13 to 30 known, indicating the die was pulled from service soon after the break developed. The 1923-D Peace Dollar was struck at the Denver Mint with a mintage of approximately 6.81 million pieces. The extensive nature of this die crack — traversing from L through IN to the numeral 1 and down to the rim — documents a major structural failure in the obverse die that would have been readily visible on finished coins, likely prompting quick die replacement.

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