1923 Peace Dollar - VAM-1BF

Description

Within the extensive VAM-1 sub-variety family for the 1923-P Peace dollar, VAM-1BF "Die Gouge Thru Right T in TRVST" documents a shallow, wide, vertical, striated die gouge passing through the right side of the letter T in TRVST on Anthony de Francisci's obverse. Philadelphia produced approximately 30.8 million Peace dollars in 1923, consuming an extraordinary number of working dies and generating the deep sub-variety census reflected by the BF suffix — indicating that well over 50 distinct die pairings had been previously documented within the VAM-1 classification before this entry was added. The die gouge's characteristics — shallow depth, wide span, vertical orientation, and striated texture — suggest it was produced by a rough-surfaced tool dragged vertically across the die surface during preparation, leaving parallel micro-grooves within the broader gouge channel. The location through the right side of the T in TRVST places the gouge in the lower right area of the obverse where the motto IN GOD WE TRVST (using the classical Latin V for U, as was de Francisci's stylistic choice) runs along the lower periphery. The striated texture within the gouge provides a uniquely identifiable diagnostic that distinguishes this defect from simple cracks or smooth gouges on other dies. At R-5 rarity, confirmed specimens surface with moderate regularity given the large surviving population of 1923-P Peace dollars. Examination under 15x magnification focused on the right vertical stroke of the T in TRVST should reveal the characteristic wide, textured gouge.

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