Two 1921 D Morgan Dollars With Die Cracks

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 6,031
samboyellowsub Valued Member United States 113 Posts	Posted 02/14/2012 01:47 am I bought several Morgans and Peace dollars recently. It was my most recent purchase since I found out about VAM varieties, so I have had fun looking through them with a magnifying glass. I've found two with die cracks so far, both 1921D's. I figured, they basically mass produced the heck out of Morgans that year so there are bound to be die cracks. The trouble is, I can't figure out which VAM I've got here. I recognize some of the cracks are distinct of some varieties, but not all the cracks are there. I suppose, the cracks worsened over time and some earlier versions won't have as many cracks as coins made by the die after heavy use. Here, is the first 1921D, I'll post picture of the next one after I've got some replies to this first one to keep things consolidated and tidy. The first one, [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6872706437/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6872706437/]1921 D 1[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6872699845/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6872699845/]1921 D 1[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6872695331/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6872695331/]1921 D 1[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6872689393/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6872689393/]1921 D 1[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr Cheers! Report this Post to the Staff

SsuperDdave Moderator United States 23522 Posts	Posted 02/14/2012 02:30 am http://www.coincommunity.com/us_dol...n_dollar.asp The "S" in "STATES" is a smoking-gun giveaway. Got a difficult one? Report this Post to the Staff
samboyellowsub Valued Member United States 113 Posts	Posted 02/14/2012 03:07 am So SuperDave, the Beanie S is a defining attribute? Meaning all the other die crack lines not lining up are just due to the coin being minted at an early stage before the die fully developed all its cracks? Report this Post to the Staff
samboyellowsub Valued Member United States 113 Posts	Posted 02/14/2012 03:19 am Here is the other one, that was more difficult for me. [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874167563/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874167563/]1921 D (2)[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874160085/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874160085/]1921 D (2)[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874154183/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874154183/]1921 D (2)[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874152437/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874152437/]1921 D (2)[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874147835/][/url] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36540259@N04/6874147835/]1921 D (2)[/url] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/36540259@N04/]covingtonsam[/url], on Flickr Report this Post to the Staff
SsuperDdave Moderator United States 23522 Posts	Posted 02/14/2012 12:06 pm Quote: So SuperDave, the Beanie S is a defining attribute? Meaning all the other die crack lines not lining up are just due to the coin being minted at an early stage before the die fully developed all its cracks? Yes, and yes; you'll find that the physical location of what cracks you can see is precisely the same as any other example of this VAM. Their degree of development happens over the lifetime of the die. This one was easy because the activity over the S is unique. Your second coin, however, isn't so easy. Well, I asked for it. The crack through the F in OF can be found on a few differing 1921-D VAMs. Not in precisely that location - no two are alike - but unless you've the complete panoply of 1921-D die cracks in your head (contrary to popular belief, I don't ), it has to be just one piece of evidence in a bigger picture. The same goes for the cracks at E * P; they're extremely common in 1921-D's and can only be another piece of the pie. It is when combined with your image of RIBUS that these begin to tell a story. Your coin is an early die state of VAM-1W, known as 1W1: http://www.vamworld.com/1921-D+VAM-1W1 The crack between BU later develops into a full-fledged break known as 1W2: http://www.coincommunity.com/us_dol...n_dollar.asp Look on your coin for the break in the wreath, below the NI of UNITED. Yours should be more easily-seen than in the 1W2 I posted here at CCF. Report this Post to the Staff
samboyellowsub Valued Member United States 113 Posts	Posted 02/14/2012 5:08 pm Wow, thanks Dave! I noticed a VAM with the specific crack through the F and Wing, but for the same reasons up above, I wasn't 100% sure to attribute it. You've confirmed my thinking on die crack developments. Now the question that lingers somewhere in the brain of every collector ... are they worth a premium? :) I suspect die cracks in 1921 were common toward the end of the run, so that these are not particularly rare. Thanks again for the detailed reply! Report this Post to the Staff
SsuperDdave Moderator United States 23522 Posts	Posted 02/15/2012 02:10 am For the record, there are only two or three 1921-D VAMs which carry any premium in less than, say, MS64 condition. VAM-1A2 comes to mind, as does 1B2, and late die state 1H, 1J and 1N as coins which would command interest even in circulated condition. 1921 in general still doesn't get much respect. Aside the 1921-S Thornheads, not many are considered high-demand by the large majority of active VAMmers. Heck, I just cherrypicked a Condition Census example of one with a cult following because of what are believed to be denticle impressions, a Hot 50 coin, and haven't even bothered to mention it on VAMworld. Too few will see it as significant. Report this Post to the Staff
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