Something You May Not Know About 1934-D Peace Dollars: It all began in 1932 with a decision by the mint to increase the size of Denver's mintmark on all coins. The 1933 Cent was chosen to be the pilot coin to prove the change. It was deemed a success. Other coins followed suit in 1934. The Denver Mint was over-burdened with the old regular mintmark puncheons. They began striking 1934 coins before the new larger mintmark puncheons arrived at the mint. Immediately upon receiving the new larger mintmark puncheons the mint switched to the newer puncheons, but had already released the normal mintmarked coins, struck thus far, into circulation creating 1934 Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, Half Dollars and Dollars bearing small (normal) and large D mintmarks. David W. Lange, Research Director for NGC states, "Thus, the nickels, dimes, quarters and halves dated 1934-D are known with either Small D (old dies) or Large D mintmarks. Their relative rarity varies from one denomination to another, but silver dollars having the Small D mintmark are noticeably scarcer than those having the Large D reverse." Research Director Lange cautions us, "In the case of coins struck from otherwise normal dies the scarcity of Small D coins is not such that these coins carry a premium." Director Lange further tells us, "The dollars dated 1934-D are also known from an obverse die that is very prominently doubled. This doubling is most obvious within the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, but it may be seen also in the rays emanating from Liberty's tiara. This doubled obverse die was paired with both Small D and Large D reverse dies."</i> Here's where things get interesting. The 1934-D Peace Dollar with the doubled obverse and the Small D is many times rarer than its Large D counterpart. In fact, the ratio recorded in NGC's Census Report is nearly six-to-one! To make the 1934 small D even more interesting, up to 4 VAMs of the Doubled Obverse are in existance. Before you see a photo understand that some numismatists refer to the small D as micro. Others believe there are 1934-D Peace Dollars bearing a micro D, a small D or a large D. After reaching VAMworld's website, check out the different doubling areas on the obverse. This will bring you to an example of a VAM-4 1934 small D doubled obverse Peace Dollar authenticated by PCGS. 1934-D SMALL D DOUBLED OBVERSE VAM-4 Here's VAMworld's pics of the double die areas of a 1934 small D VAM-3: 1934-D SMALL D DOUBLED OBVERSE VAM-3 NOTE: The 1934-D Peace Dollar was the last 90 per cent Silver Dollar struck at the Denver Mint for circulation in the United States of America. Thought you should know... Clinker
