1927-P VAM-3

Description

Jeff Oxman — a prolific Peace dollar researcher whose discoveries span numerous dates and mintmarks — identified the 1927-P VAM-3 "Doubled TR" in November 1999. Cataloged as 3 II 3 · B2a (Doubled TR) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (estimated 30-75 known), this variety exhibits slight doubling on the letters T and R of TRUST and on Anthony de Francisci's designer initials, with the doubling direction oriented toward the date. The Obverse II 3 classification identifies a specific obverse die within the II hub family, paired with a standard Reverse B2a. Philadelphia struck approximately 848,000 Peace dollars in 1927, one of the lowest mintage figures in the entire series — a production level so modest that it makes the 1927-P a scarce date in all grades, let alone in a specific die variety carrying an R-5 rarity designation. The doubling toward the date indicates the secondary hub impression displaced the TR and designer's initials in the direction of the lower-right date position, a directional clue that helps distinguish this variety from other doubled die effects on the same design elements. De Francisci's initials, positioned near the truncation of Liberty's neck, occupy a relatively small area that requires careful examination under magnification to confirm the doubling against the primary letterforms. The R-5 rarity of 30-75 known specimens, combined with the already scarce base date, makes the 1927-P VAM-3 a genuinely challenging variety to locate. Collectors pursuing this attribution should focus on the T and R of TRUST under 15-20x magnification with angled lighting, looking for a secondary impression shifted in the direction of the date numerals, while also checking the designer's initials for corresponding displacement in the same direction.

External References