1935-S VAM-5A

Description

Building on the base VAM-5 attribution, the 1935-S VAM-5A "Doubled Reverse Left Rays, Die Gouge Below Olive Leaves" Peace dollar adds a supplementary diagnostic to the doubled reverse left rays characteristic. Cataloged as 5A III 1 · B2c (Doubled Reverse Left Rays, Die Gouge Below Olive Leaves) with die classification I-2 and rarity rating R-5 (approximately 30-75 known), this variety pairs an Obverse III 1 with a Reverse B2c that carries both the inherited doubled rays from VAM-5 and a newly identified horizontal die gouge positioned below the olive leaves on the reverse. San Francisco struck approximately 1.96 million Peace dollars in 1935, the final year of the series and one of the lowest-mintage dates, making any 1935-S variety particularly desirable to collectors. The die gouge below the olive leaves — a horizontal incision in the die surface that produces a raised line on struck coins — likely resulted from die preparation procedures or accidental tool contact during die finishing, and its specific horizontal orientation and position below the olive leaves distinguishes VAM-5A from the parent VAM-5 and other 1935-S sub-varieties. The Reverse B2c classification identifies a specific reverse die variant carrying the doubled left rays as its defining characteristic, and the addition of the die gouge creates the A suffix sub-variety within the VAM-5 family. Anthony de Francisci's Peace dollar reverse positions the eagle with rays emanating from behind its figure, and the left-side rays — those extending toward the viewer's left — display the doubled impression that defines the VAM-5 lineage. At R-5 rarity with the premium attached to the scarce 1935-S date, collectors should examine the reverse at 15-20x magnification, focusing first on the left rays for doubling evidence and then checking below the olive leaves for the horizontal die gouge that separates VAM-5A from its parent variety.

External References