1923-D VAM-1AX1

Description

Discovered in 2010, VAM-1AX1 on the 1923-D Peace dollar documents a vertical die gouge positioned below the E in WE on Anthony de Francisci's obverse portrait. The classification places this under die state II1 with reverse B2a designation, carrying an I-2 interest rating and the scarce R-5 rarity level — meaning an estimated 30 to 75 specimens are known to exist, a population thin enough that confirmed examples carry genuine scarcity value within the VAM collecting community. Denver produced approximately 6.81 million Peace dollars in 1923, a moderate mintage that falls below the series average and ensures the date commands attention from collectors even without variety attribution. The "Die Gouge Below E" descriptive name pinpoints the variety's diagnostic location: a vertical gouge in the die steel beneath the E of WE on the obverse, which transfers as a raised vertical mark on the finished coin. Die gouges differ from die scratches in their depth and width — gouges are typically broader and deeper, suggesting a more forceful tool contact or foreign object impact during die preparation or handling. The vertical orientation of the gouge helps distinguish VAM-1AX1 from other die gouge varieties on the same date that may appear at different angles or locations. Within the VAM numbering system, the AX1 suffix indicates an extended sub-variety within the 1A die family, reflecting the layered classification structure that accommodates new discoveries while maintaining their relationship to previously cataloged parent varieties.

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