1925-S VAM-1A2

Description

Building upon the VAM-1A discovery, the 1925-S VAM-1A2 "Die Gouge 2" Peace dollar adds a second diagnostic feature to this die's repertoire: a short, shallow die gouge slanting to the right from the top of the numeral 2 in the date. Cataloged as 1A2 II 1 B2a (Die Gouge 2) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-6 (estimated 13-30 known), this variety occupies the rare tier where patience and persistence are prerequisites for acquisition. The obverse also carries the tiny slanted die gouge in the rays below BE in LIBERTY that defines the parent VAM-1A variety, meaning VAM-1A2 requires both diagnostics for proper attribution — the ray gouge below BE plus the date gouge at the top of the 2. Anthony de Francisci's Peace dollar obverse positions the date at the lower right beneath Liberty's neck, where the numeral 2 in 1925 provides a relatively small target for diagnostic examination. San Francisco struck approximately 1.61 million Peace dollars in 1925, one of the lowest mintages in the entire series and a date that commands significant premiums across all grade levels. The die gouges — shallow linear depressions cut into the die surface during preparation — transfer as thin raised ridges on struck coins, and their angular orientations (slanting right from the 2, slanting in the rays below BE) provide precise positional diagnostics that distinguish this variety from others in the VAM-1 family. At R-6 rarity combined with the already scarce 1925-S base date, confirmed examples are exceptionally difficult to locate. Collectors examining candidates need at least 15x magnification with raking light to resolve both gouge features, confirming first the ray gouge below BE and then the date gouge at the top of the 2 before claiming a positive attribution.

External References