1926-P VAM-6

Description

David Close discovered this Peace Dollar variety documenting doubled olive leaves on the reverse — a hub doubling feature affecting the botanical elements of Anthony de Francisci's iconic reverse design. Classified as II 1 - B2d with an interest level of I-2 and a rarity rating of R-5 (estimated 30 to 75 survivors), the reverse die (B2d) shows slight doubling on the middle and lower olive leaves at the bottom, the back of the rear two leg feathers, and the left side of the rays below the tail feathers. This cluster of affected elements along the lower and left portions of the reverse indicates that the hub shifted in a specific direction during the secondary hubbing impression, creating offset duplicates of the olive leaves, feathers, and rays in that zone while leaving the upper portions of the eagle relatively unaffected. The olive branch is a central symbolic element of the Peace Dollar design, representing the post-World War I aspiration for lasting peace that inspired the coin's creation in 1921. Doubling on the olive leaves therefore affects one of the design's most meaningful components. The Philadelphia Mint produced approximately 1.94 million Peace Dollars in 1926, one of the lower Philadelphia mintages in the series, making the 1926-P a somewhat scarcer date that commands a modest premium over more common Philadelphia issues. Close has been one of the most prolific contributors to Peace Dollar VAM research, with numerous discoveries across multiple dates. The R-5 rarity indicates that this die pair was used for a relatively limited portion of the 1926-P production, and the subtle nature of olive leaf doubling may mean additional unattributed examples remain in collections awaiting identification.

External References