1925-P VAM-1AF

Description

Discovered in September 2011 by Bill Toland, the 1925-P VAM-1AF "Worm Eye" Peace dollar documents a thread-like die impression below Liberty's eye on Anthony de Francisci's obverse — an anomaly whose shape inspired the colorful nickname and prompted the discoverer to note it resembles a "baited fish hook" more than a worm. Cataloged as 1AF II1 · B2a (Worm Eye) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (approximately 30-75 known), this variety identifies a distinctive die surface artifact in one of the most visually prominent areas of the obverse design. Philadelphia produced approximately 10.20 million Peace dollars in 1925, a moderate mintage that consumed a substantial number of working die pairs across the production year. The thread-like die impression below Liberty's eye likely originated from a foreign fiber, thread, or thin metallic strand that became pressed into the die surface during manufacturing or die preparation, creating a shallow depression that transferred as a raised sinuous mark on every coin struck from that die. Die impressions of this character — thin, curved, and organic-looking rather than angular — typically result from foreign material contamination rather than from tool contact or mechanical processes, which tend to produce more regular geometric marks. The "worm eye" designation places the anomaly in direct visual association with Liberty's facial features, making it a particularly memorable diagnostic among the typically technical VAM nomenclature. Bill Toland's contributions to Peace dollar variety documentation span numerous dates and sub-varieties, and his descriptive commentary about the fish hook appearance adds a human dimension to the attribution that helps collectors remember and communicate the diagnostic. Collectors should examine the area immediately below Liberty's eye under 15-20x magnification, looking for the curved thread-like raised mark that distinguishes this variety from normal die characteristics.

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