1926-S VAM-1N

Description

Discovered in 2010, VAM-1N documents a diagonal long die scratch positioned below the letter R in LIBERTY on the 1926-S Peace dollar obverse. The original catalog notation includes the spelling "Sscratch" — a minor typographical artifact preserved in the attribution record — but the diagnostic is clear: a single long scratch running diagonally through the field below R. Cataloged as II1 - B2a with rarity R-5 (estimated 30 to 75 surviving pieces) and interest level I-2, this variety joins several other 1926-S Peace dollar sub-varieties that feature die anomalies in the LIBERTY inscription area, including VAM-1B (die gouge below E), VAM-1S (die gouges below R with file lines), and VAM-1Y (die gouge through I). San Francisco struck 6.98 million Peace dollars in 1926, providing the total population from which these R-5 survivors derive. The distinction between VAM-1N and the similar VAM-1S — both featuring marks below R in LIBERTY — lies in the character and context of the marks: VAM-1N presents a single diagonal long scratch without accompanying file lines, while VAM-1S shows gouges accompanied by die file lines. Anthony de Francisci positioned the LIBERTY inscription along the upper obverse border, and the field below each letter provides a relatively clean zone where die scratches stand out against the smooth surface. Collectors examining 1926-S Peace dollars in the LIBERTY area should carefully note the specific character, orientation, and context of any die marks to ensure accurate attribution among the several varieties documented for this region.

External References