1925-P VAM-1Q

Description

Discovered by David Close, this 1925 Philadelphia Peace Dollar presents five horizontal thin shallow die gouges at the back of Liberty's cheek plus one gouge in nearby hair, accompanied by die file lines in the fields of both obverse and reverse. Cataloged as VAM-1Q with attribution I 1 - B2a, the variety earns an I-3 interest rating — higher than the typical I-2 — and R-5 rarity estimating 13 to 30 known. The elevated I-3 reflects the visual impact of five parallel gouges on Liberty's cheek, creating a pattern immediately recognizable once identified. Die file lines on both sides indicate the dies underwent mechanical finishing where abrasive tools left linear marks in open field areas, a practice used by Mint personnel to smooth surfaces or remove minor defects. The combination of gouges plus bilateral die file lines suggests this die pair received notable workshop attention, making the variety a document of Mint production practices as much as a collectible die variety. The 1925 Philadelphia Peace Dollar was produced in large quantities, and the R-5 rarity makes this a scarce find within the high-mintage date.

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