1926-P VAM-8B

Description

Identified by Jody Faust in December 2017, this 1926 Philadelphia Mint Peace Dollar VAM-8B is designated Doubled Olive Leaves and Berries with Die Gouges and a Die Break at the Neck. Rated R-6 with only 13 to 30 specimens documented and assigned an I-2 interest level, it represents one of the scarcer late die states in the 1926-P series. The primary attribution feature is a die crack running across the bottom of Liberty's neck, continuing over to the left T in TRVST, with displaced field metal forming a break at the left neck point. This progressive die failure, combined with the doubled olive leaves and berries on the reverse and distinctive die gouges between the letters N and G, creates a variety with multiple diagnostic points. Die gouges and scratches in the N-G area of the reverse inscription provide quick identification even on moderately worn specimens. The 1926 Philadelphia issue was the last regular-production Peace Dollar until the brief 1934-1935 revival, making advanced die states from this final year of initial production particularly significant to series specialists tracking die progression through terminal die states.

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