1923-D VAM-1AZ1
Error
Description
Discovered by David Close and cataloged by VAMWorld, VAM-1AZ1 on the 1923-D Peace Dollar carries importance I-4 and rarity R-7, the highest importance level in the VAM system paired with an estimated 10 to 20 known specimens. The obverse exhibits die cracks through the letters IN and through the numerals 1-9, characteristics shared with the VAM-2 obverse die 1, confirming this obverse was used in multiple die marriages. The reverse, classified B2a, displays a cud at the letters MERI extending from the rim into the tops of E and R, creating a dramatic raised shelf where the die fragment broke away. The combination of obverse die cracks and a reverse cud makes this visually striking on both sides. Denver produced 1923-D Peace Dollars in substantial quantities, but the extreme rarity suggests this die pairing saw very limited use before retirement, likely because the cud damage was identified quickly. Collectors who locate a confirmed example hold one of the scarcest documented Peace Dollar varieties.
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