1921-S Vam 1B4C (new stage) Thorn or Thornhead (new variety)

[78-sLongnock]

There is an additional Stage in the 1921-S Thorn Head that was added to the series. A few years ago, I was deep into the Thorn Head Die study, & thought that there was at least one more possible in the series. The discovery of the 1B6A convinced me that there has to be additional polishing events that had to of occurred back in 1921 San Francisco mint. Well, it wasn’t a polishing event that I stumbled into. The new Vam 1B4C OB is unchanged from the 1B4B. But, the Vam 1B4C also used the Rev Of D2a That added thin die gouge between E and D below wreath bow. The gouge that extends from the bottom of the feather of the left wing is present. The Rev had to have been worked at the very end of the Vam 1B4B run. This stage was continued to be used on the 1B5, 1B6 and 1B7.

[Mhomei]

Congrats
Good work as always

[lewisr2]

Excellent Vamming.
Time consuming investigation proves fruitful again.

[vamsterdam]

I heard about this a year or two ago, but never saw any confirmation til now. Congratulations.

[messydesk]

Leroy actually mentioned it in either the 1B4b or 1B5 listing before this was listed. He had the opportunity to add it at one time, but declined, presumably since it was only a change in the reverse.

[lured_in_again]

Am I confused, or is this saying the VAM 1B4B has 2 different reverse dies - with and without the gouges (also the gouge extending from the bottom of left wing)

[messydesk]

The text in previous supplements for VAM 1B4b said, "Added thin die gouge between E and D below wreath bow on later 1B4b die states." This is what was made VAM 1B4c in the interest of tracking the die changes that collectors of this high profile series are interested in.

[lured_in_again]

I guess this is what threw me off / from initial posting above..... " The new Vam 1B4C OB is unchanged from the 1B4B. But, the Vam 1B4C is the first use of the Rev Of D2a" Do earlier coins in the sequence have a different reverse die?

[messydesk]

The reverse die was changed between VAM 1B4c and 1B5 as far as I know, but they're both classified as D2a reverses.

[vampicker]

To be clear, we're talking about two stages of the same reverse die, not two separate dies. The scribble scratches match across all stages. I checked this against an example of VAM 1B5 in hand and the earlier stage plates.

[78-sLongnock]

Thanks all for the additional info.
LeRoy saw it it it’s Raw state.
Ill continue to pursue this series till the final outcome.