1924-S VAM-1E

Description

Cataloged as VAM-1E for the 1924-S Peace dollar, this variety titled "Die File Lines Obverse & Reverse" documents clash mark removal evidence on both sides of the coin. The classification 1E II1 · B2a (Die File Lines Obverse & Reverse) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (approximately 30-75 known) identifies a die pair where mint workers filed both the obverse and reverse working dies to erase the raised clash marks that had transferred between them during a clashless strike — a misfire where the dies came together without a planchet between them, impressing each die's design into the opposing die face. On the obverse, die file lines appear in the left field where the clash marks from the reverse eagle design had been impressed, while the reverse shows file lines around the eagle where obverse clash marks from Liberty's portrait had been transferred. San Francisco produced only approximately 1.73 million Peace dollars in 1924, making it the lowest S-mint production in the entire series and one of the key dates that commands substantial premiums across all grades. Anthony de Francisci's design places the obverse portrait and reverse eagle in positions where clashing produces recognizable transferred design elements — the eagle's wing outlines on the obverse field and Liberty's hair detail on the reverse — that required filing to remove for continued die service. The R-5 rarity designation indicates 30-75 confirmed specimens, suggesting this die pair had limited production after the clash event and subsequent repair. Collectors should examine both the left obverse field and the area surrounding the reverse eagle under 15x magnification with angled lighting to detect the shallow parallel file lines that distinguish die maintenance from random surface marks.

External References