In May 2006, a new 1921-S
VAM, assigned VAM-1L by Leroy Van Allen, was discovered. Brian Raines, the discoverer, named it "Rain Over States" for its' characteristic lines extending from the denticles down into the field. Mr. Van Allen believes that this characteristic is likely due to the reverse die being out of level towards STATES. This theory is supported by weakness in the strike of the denticles under DOLLAR, under the other side of the die.
As an aside concerning how difficult it is to keep track of populations, VAMworld states that the known population as of May 2006 is two coins. However, VAMworld is only as accurate as the information being provided. I have seen two other examples (although they may be the referenced ones) being sold on
ebay since.
I have two of them, not noted at VAMworld.
I have noted a difference between my two examples. One is strongly doubled in the upper front of Liberty's profile; the other is doubled only at the lip, where the first is not. The reverses appear similar. Here's the strongly doubled one:
...and the less-doubled one:
None of this doubling is noted on any description of the
VAM I've read. That doesn't mean the doubling isn't there on the other examples, but only that it hasn't been noted. Sometimes the "cool factor" of a new discovery obscures other features which are worthy of note.
The purpose of this post is to hint at the fluidity of the world of
VAM's - this is an ongoing process which will likely survive all of us. I will be emailing Mr. Van Allen a link to this thread, so as to avoid megabytes of email attachments. My hope is that it might be established whether this doubling is known, if there might be two differing die pairs with this feature, or if I have two differing states of the same obverse die.
Posted 01/27/2007 3:14 pm
