Need Peace VAM Help - Decapitated Eagle

nesvt

Decapitated eagle? Severed eagle head? Anyone know what VAM this might be?
The images don't show it very well. The crack cuts through the eagle's neck. The area above the crack looks lower than below (displaced field?). It also has a die break through the E in STATES.

jdsinva

Send it in and get you another new VAM, Norm!

Coxe

I have a couple different ones like that, which I labelled as "crackhead eagle", but their cracks are higher up across the head. I know one is a 1923-D VAM-1G. The other is a 1924 that also has cracks in the lower reverse that form a big "T" -- with one from the rim to the leg feathers and the horizontal one through the leg feathers. Didn't send that one in as there are so many cracks on Peace dollars and it was my understanding that, with special exceptions, Leroy will only issue new VAMs for broken dies.

Peaceman

I dont think it'll vam... but you never know.... good luck with it.

morganbarber

I am not an expert by a long shot, but based on the pictures you provide, the line by the E is a die crack. The one through the eagle's neck looks more like a planchet flaw. Is it raised? I am just going by the one picture.

nesvt

<< <i>I am not an expert by a long shot, but based on the pictures you provide, the line by the E is a die crack. The one through the eagle's neck looks more like a planchet flaw. Is it raised? I am just going by the one picture. >>



A planchet flaw would make more sense. The area below the line is slightly higher than the eagle's head. You can even see a slight offset on the left where the pieces meet. The line doesn't look raised like a die crack. However, if you follow the line to the right, you can see the tiny crack in the field between the head and shoulder. There's even a small piece of silver on the eagle's right shoulder.