1926-S VAM-1I

Description

The 1926-S Peace Dollar VAM-1I displays a die polishing effect that shortened the front tiara rays near Liberty's hair on the obverse (die II1), the result of die maintenance work to remove clash marks from a prior die collision. Paired with reverse die B2a and carrying an I-2 interest level with R-6 rarity — indicating approximately 13 to 30 known specimens — this variety documents the Mint's willingness to preserve dies by polishing away clash impressions, even at the cost of removing portions of the original design. The diagnostic die marker consists of two die chips at the base of the last tiara ray, providing a secondary identification point beyond the shortened rays themselves. When clash marks are polished away from areas near design elements, the polishing often removes adjacent design detail as well — in this case, the front rays of Liberty's radiant crown were ground down along with the unwanted clash impressions. The R-6 rarity suggests this die was in service only briefly, and the combination of shortened rays and the die chips at the last ray's base provides collectors with two independent diagnostics for confident attribution of this scarce San Francisco Mint variety. =1926-S VAM-1I Shortened Tiara Front Rays= 1I II1 - B2a (Shortened Tiara Front Rays) I-2 R-6 Obverse II1 - Die polished to remove die clash marks with shortened front rays near hair.

External References