1927-S VAM-2A

Description

Several small rim cuds extending below the date into the obverse field characterize the 1927-S VAM-2A Peace dollar, a variety discovered in 2012. Cataloged as 2A II1 · B2b (High S, Rim Cuds Date) with die classification I-3 and rarity rating R-6 (approximately 13-30 known), this variety combines two diagnostics: a high S mintmark position on the reverse and rim cuds beneath the date numerals on the obverse. San Francisco struck approximately 0.85 million Peace dollars in 1927 — the lowest mintage of any Peace dollar date-mint combination and one of the most coveted coins in the entire series. The extreme scarcity of the 1927-S base date makes any VAM attribution for this issue particularly significant, as the small surviving population limits the total number of distinct die pairs that can be documented. Rim cuds develop when the die steel fractures at the rim and small fragments detach, leaving corresponding raised blobs on struck coins. The multiple small cuds below the date that extend slightly into the field indicate several independent fracture points along the lower obverse rim, suggesting the die was under significant stress in this area. The high S mintmark on the Reverse B2b provides a reverse diagnostic that confirms the die marriage independent of the obverse rim damage. At R-6 rarity, with only an estimated 13-30 known, this variety is genuinely rare — though attributing it is complicated by the base date's own scarcity, which limits the available population for examination. The I-3 interest classification reflects the relatively modest visual appeal of small rim cuds compared to major die breaks or dramatic doubled dies. Collectors fortunate enough to possess a 1927-S Peace dollar should examine the rim below the date under 10x magnification for small raised irregularities.

External References