I just got this one to upgrade my not yet completed set. I appreciate all opinions and comments. Bruce
Doug, I was hoping you'd comment on this coin as this coin is a VAM with extensive die cracks from 12 to 8 o'clock. I have not been able to identify it yet but the closest description is that of a 1923D 1 AG. I believe this coin may be a late die state as the die cracks starts at the middle of the B in LIBERTY thru the rays, to the bottom of the E, to the tip of the last ray out of the hair up through thru the middle of the R to the rim and along the inner rim to the right side of the T. It starts again down the left side of the Y thru the middle of the Y down to the 3rd strand of hair. Then down thru the T in TRVST thru the lower right side of the neck and comes out on the lower left side of the neck and stops half way between the top of the 1 and the D in GOD. (Whew!) Plus, there's another die crack running thru the Bun of hair and out the bottom of the bun. As far as the hairlines, I totally agree as I can see them with a 10x loupe. The scratch I believe you are alluding to extends from the nose down to the chin. In the description of the VAM 1923D 1AG there is a mention of such a mark being caused by an overzealous die polisher. The line on this coin is shiny and has horizontal stripes up its length. At times it looks like a product of a die crack, and others like a scratch. I think it's because it's shiny. I'm not really sure what VAM this one is but is sure looks to be a LDS to the point where it couldn't have been used much longer. I bought this from ebay and the photo did not show much of the details I found. The seller did say that the surfaces were "original, never cleaned". He lied. I could send it back but it only cost me less than $20 for what he said was an AU 58 Slider UNC. I want to keep the coin only because it is such an interesting VAM and one not yet identified it. Besides the coin looks great in hand except for the altered surfaces under 10x. Maybe this thread should be moved over to the ERROR section and it'd get more input. Bruce
A very detailed coin I know that this coin is not, any longer, in MS state. It has had the surfaces either buffed, scrubbed , wire wheeled or whatever done to it, but it is still an interesting coin because of the Die Cracks throughout its' obverse it still really interesting. I'd like anyone who knows about these Peace Dollar VAMS to chime in and help resolve what and where this coin came from. The only info I got was from VAMWORLD. And that wasn't enough, so far. This coin has so much character that I'd like to pursue it's pedigree some more with the input from the coin talk experts and the novices. here on CoinTalk. The following photos are: first-- The parallel facial (and neck) scratches that prove that this coin has altered surfaces. --and the either scrape, or raised metal from a polishers mistake. (like the die cracks). What do you think? Bruce
I didn't mention the second photo from a QX5 digital microscope that shows a 60x mag of the line in front on the nose an mouth. To me this looks raised which would make it, possibly, from a die polishers overuse as explained in the description of the Peace Dollar VAM 1923D 1AG. Bruce
If that is correct Bruce then no it is not a scratch. But the coin has definitey been harshly cleaned as you can see yourself. As for VAMs, I have never bothered to study them as varieties of this type never held any interest whatsoever for me. And rarely do vairieties or errors of any type hold interest for me. Personally, I have always preferred coins without them as I find errors in particular as a detraction and not a plus.
