1921D VAM-1AR Die Break Top Left of M Extending Left

JOH-5 Discovered by Jim Hart, 2001 (Desirability: )

John Wilson discovered a late die state assigned VAM-1AR in March 2004

Condition Census:  60R, 60R, 50R 35R (Total:  2 MS, 2 Circ.)

The VAM-1AR die variety has die cracks outlining an area above the M in AMERICA. In late die state specimens, this outline has cracked away and is tilted at a different angle to the field of the coin. In the first printing of “Fun with 1921” a challenge was issues to discover an example worthy of a new VAM assignment. John Wilson stepped up to the challenge and found a nice break that Leroy Van Allen designated as “worthy of listing.” Congratulations John! This coin is remarkably similar to VAM-1L and may be confused as an early die state of that VAM. There is extensive die cracking above the M in AMERICA extending up and left. It is interesting that the die made almost identical cracks as in the VAM-1L. Cracks elsewhere on the die may be used to differentiate the two die varieties.

The crack between the I and the C of AMERICA may be used to uniquely identify the VAM-1AR coin. The crack on a VAM-1AR is below the top of the I, forming a relatively straight line. On a VAM-1L a similar crack appears but is level with the top of the I and bows slightly upward. Relative to VAM-1L, this variety has a lower crack.

Very late die states have an elongated first star to the left of the date.  Note that late die states with a break above the M and the obverse star die break are much more desirable than coins with simply a crack outline over the M in AMERICA.

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