1924-P VAM-1BI

Description

Discovered in 2012 by David Close, the 1924-P VAM-1BI "Die Break Below Y" Peace dollar features a radial die crack extending from the rim below the letter Y in LIBERTY, accompanied by a displaced field break on Anthony de Francisci's obverse design. Cataloged as 1BI II1 - B2a (Die Break Below Y) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-6 (estimated 13-30 known), this variety documents a structural die failure that has progressed beyond a simple crack to the point of field displacement. Philadelphia struck approximately 11.81 million Peace dollars in 1924, a moderate mintage within the series. Radial die cracks — those extending from the rim toward the center of the die — follow natural stress propagation paths in the die steel, as the rim area experiences the greatest mechanical stress during striking and cracks tend to initiate there before propagating inward through the design elements. The displaced field break indicates that the crack has advanced sufficiently to allow the die surface on one side of the fracture to shift slightly relative to the other, creating a step or shelf visible on struck coins where the coin's field changes elevation along the crack line. The location below the Y of LIBERTY places this die failure in the lower right quadrant of the obverse, where the inscription runs along Liberty's crown. The BI alphabetical suffix — extending deep into the double-letter range — demonstrates the extraordinary depth of sub-variety documentation within the VAM-1 family for the 1924-P date. At R-6 rarity, with only 13-30 estimated known, confirmed specimens are genuinely difficult to locate. David Close's 2012 discovery added another entry to his prolific Peace dollar research portfolio. Collectors should examine the area below the Y of LIBERTY under 15x magnification, looking for the raised crack line extending radially from the rim with an associated elevation change in the adjacent field.

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