1925-P VAM-1AQ

Description

Discovered in 2016 by David Close, the 1925-P VAM-1AQ "Die Gouges Chin Front" Peace dollar documents a thin vertical die gouge positioned in front of Liberty's lower lip and chin on Anthony de Francisci's obverse, with an additional die gouge noted on the numeral 5 in the date. Cataloged as 1AQ II1 · B2a (Die Gouges Chin Front) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (approximately 30-75 known), this variety offers two distinct diagnostic points on a single die. The primary gouge in front of the lower lip and chin sits in a prominent area of the design where the smooth field between Liberty's profile and the surrounding inscriptions makes any raised anomaly readily visible against the unadorned background. Philadelphia struck approximately 10.2 million Peace dollars in 1925, a moderate mintage that generated substantial die usage without approaching the prolific output of the 1922 and 1923 dates. Die gouges originate from various causes during die preparation and use: tool slips, foreign particles trapped between hub and die during sinking, or accidental contact during die handling. The vertical orientation of the chin gouge and the secondary gouge on the 5 in the date suggest these marks may share a common origin — perhaps a single particle dragged across the die during a preparation step, leaving linear traces at two separate points. David Close has contributed extensively to the Peace dollar VAM census, particularly for 1920s Philadelphia dates. The AQ suffix places this variety deep within the alphabetical sequence of VAM-1 sub-varieties for 1925-P, indicating robust documentation for this date. Collectors should examine the field in front of Liberty's lower lip and chin under 15-20x magnification for the vertical raised line, then check the numeral 5 for the secondary gouge to confirm both diagnostics.

External References