1924-S VAM-1M

Description

Discovered in 2014 by davidkclose (David Close, a prolific Peace dollar VAM researcher), the 1924-S VAM-1M "Beveled Cap, Top" documents a beveled field area at the top of Liberty's cap below the R of LIBERTY, attributed to die polishing that removed metal from the die surface in this specific region. Cataloged as 1M II1 · B2a (Beveled Cap, Top) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (approximately 30-75 known), this variety identifies a die preparation artifact rather than a hub doubling or die damage event. San Francisco struck approximately 1.73 million Peace dollars in 1924, the lowest S-mint production in the series and a date that commands substantial premiums in all grades. Die polishing was a routine maintenance procedure at all Mint facilities, performed to remove clash marks, light scratches, or die deterioration from the working die surface — but aggressive or uneven polishing could remove enough metal to alter the coin's appearance in localized areas, creating the beveled effect documented here. The beveled field at the cap top below R manifests as a subtle change in the surface plane where the field meets the cap detail, creating a slightly angled transition rather than the normal sharp relief boundary. Anthony de Francisci's Liberty design on the Peace dollar obverse places the radiate cap prominently beneath the LIBERTY inscription, and die polishing effects in this region can alter the visual relationship between the cap's upper edge and the adjacent field. At R-5, confirmed specimens are scarce, and the subtle nature of the beveled diagnostic requires careful examination under magnification with angled lighting that reveals the modified field contour. David Close's extensive work on Peace dollar VAM documentation spans multiple dates and has significantly expanded the catalog for San Francisco issues in particular.

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