1935-P VAM-1E

Description

Russ James discovered this pitted reverse variety on January 15, 2012, and the original cataloging notes record that Leroy Van Allen himself "was shocked that this die was not retired" — the reverse pitting being far more severe in hand than photographs convey. Designated VAM-1E II1 - B2a (Pitted Reverse) with I-2 interest and R-5 rarity, the reverse displays raised dots from rusted die pitting scattered across both the left and right fields. Die pitting occurs when moisture contacts the die surface and causes oxidation, creating small pits in the steel that transfer as raised dots onto the struck coins. The fact that the die remained in service despite severe pitting suggests either that quality control standards permitted the damage or that the die was not inspected before returning to the press after storage. The 1935 Philadelphia Mint Peace Dollar is the final year of the original Peace Dollar series, with a mintage of 1,576,000 — relatively modest and contributing to the R-5 rarity assessment for this variety. The Peace Dollar series ended in 1935 when the Pittman Act's silver dollar production requirements were fulfilled, and the design would not be struck again until the brief 2021-2023 revival. Van Allen's reaction to the severity of the pitting underscores the die's remarkable deterioration and makes this variety a noteworthy example of extreme die rust in the Peace Dollar series.

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