1923-D VAM-1AS

Description

Among the rarest cataloged varieties for the 1923-D Peace Dollar, VAM-1AS is classified as 1AS II 1 B2a with I-2 interest and R-6 rarity — an estimated population of just 1 to 12 known specimens. Discovered by David Close, this variety is designated "K-3 Rim Cud #6" and features a dramatic die crack that traces through the vee in the Y of LIBERTY, extending downward to the rim and upward near the right side of the T, where it turns at a right angle to the rim. The displaced field near the T forms a retained rim cud — a localized area where the die has fractured and shifted, producing a raised, flat area on the struck coin that obscures the normal design. Retained rim cuds represent advanced die failure and are typically found on late-die-state specimens, as the die must have accumulated sufficient stress to fracture along the crack path. The combination of the dramatic crack trajectory through LIBERTY and the resulting retained cud makes VAM-1AS one of the most visually distinctive 1923-D Peace Dollar varieties, and its R-6 rarity ensures that confirmed examples command significant collector attention.

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