1926-D VAM-1

Description

Denver's 1926 Peace dollar output of 2.35 million coins represents one of the lower mintages among Denver Mint Peace dollar issues, positioned between the common 1922-D (15.1 million) and the scarce dates from the series' final years. VAM-1 establishes the standard die marriage for this date and mint, documenting the baseline die pairing that shows no remarkable die anomalies warranting sub-variety classification. The D mintmark appears on the reverse below the eagle's tail feathers, and its size, position, and orientation serve as primary reference points for attributors comparing potential sub-varieties. Anthony de Francisci's reduced-relief Peace dollar design had been in production at Denver since 1922, with the Denver facility handling its portion of the Treasury's silver dollar output alongside Philadelphia and San Francisco. The 1926-D sits in a moderately scarce position within the series, desirable enough to command collector premiums but accessible enough that building a grade set remains feasible. The Denver Mint, established during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush era, brought its characteristic striking characteristics to the Peace dollar — Denver issues often display slightly different surface textures than their Philadelphia counterparts due to differences in press pressure and die spacing. Collectors pursuing VAM-1 coins from across the date-and-mint spectrum use these base die marriages to calibrate their understanding of what constitutes "normal" for each facility's production before identifying deviations that signal sub-variety status.

External References