1926-D VAM-1E

Description

Discovered in 2012, VAM-1E on the 1926-D Peace dollar documents a wide die gouge positioned below Liberty's chin on Anthony de Francisci's obverse portrait. Classified under die state II1 with reverse designation B2a, this variety carries the scarce rarity rating of R-6, indicating that only an estimated 13 to 30 specimens are believed to exist — a population level that places confirmed examples firmly in the advanced collector tier. Denver struck approximately 2.35 million Peace dollars in 1926, a below-average mintage for the series that already commands moderate premiums in higher grades. The I-2 interest level suggests modest collector demand despite the high rarity, perhaps because die gouges lack the visual drama of doubled dies or major die breaks. A die gouge forms when a foreign object or tool creates a depression in the working die face, which then transfers as a raised feature on every coin struck from that die until the gouge is polished out or the die is retired. The position below Liberty's chin — along the jaw line of de Francisci's portrait, which was modeled after his wife Teresa — provides a specific anatomical landmark for attribution. Collectors examining 1926-D Peace dollars should inspect the area between the chin and the truncation of the neck, looking for an elevated irregular mark that does not correspond to any intended design element. The 2012 discovery date underscores how new VAM varieties continue to surface even decades after the Van Allen-Mallis cataloging system was established.

External References