Howdy folks, I've got a bright white 1922 Peace dollar graded PCGS MS63. I've had this coin for many years but have never successfully nailed down the VAM. I'm hoping folks here could help me figure it out! The key on this coin is the die crack along the bottom of the neck, running from below the W in 'we,' through the neck, and up above the R in 'trust.' There are a few several VAMs with similar die cracks - notably 2F; however, my coin doesn't have the signature "hairpin" die gouge. I've also noted 2EO because the die crack across the neck matches my coin and correctly calls out a tiny dot in the E of 'we.' However, my coin doesn't have the key die gouge on the reverse. Any help is appreciated! Also, I can try to get better pictures if I have a better idea of specific details to focus on.
First, your coin has the B2 reverse . http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1922-P_VAMs Next, let go through the listing for die breaks . http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1922-P_Die_Breaks And the number is : 2BB http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/1922-P_VAM-2BB
Hi Rick, First, thanks for confirming B2 reverse - definitely helps narrow down the VAM. On the 2BB pictures, it seems the die break occurs higher than on my coin. Note that the images on VAM World show the die break happening about 1/4 of the way down between the E and the 9. Whereas on my coin, it appears about 1/2 of the way down between the E and the 9. Also, on 2BB, it looks like the break stretches from the D and through the T; on my coin, the break only starts below the W. I understand that (in theory) my coin could be an earlier variant before the die cracked further (from below the W to below the D), however, I can't reconcile that with the die break being 1/2 vs 1/4 of the way down. Thoughts?
The crack along the bottom of the neck is the most common crack on all Peace dollars. It's just the way the dies broke. If you have an exact match (not an approximate one) for VAM 2EO, then for all practical purposes, that's what you have. The spike on the eagle's shoulder is a clash mark, so that could have happened later.
Don't do that. The specification of VAM 2EO does not mention the clash, and Leroy's comments state why. The only times that these spikes on the eagle's shoulder are listed are when they are clearly doubled or when they extend into the lettering. If this is an exact match for VAM 2EO, then it is simply an unclashed die stage, and a comment should be added to the page stating that unclashed die stages are known.
