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1921 S Missing Tail Feathers VAM 1e?

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Coinfanmorgan's Avatar
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 Posted 02/05/2013  9:15 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Coinfanmorgan to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I just posted what I learned is a top 100 Morgan dollar. Continuing to look through pictures, this appears to be a 1921 S with missing tail feathers. Is this correct? Sorry for the quality of the images.

1921-S-Missing-Tail-Feathers-VAM-1e?

1921-S-Missing-Tail-Feathers-VAM-1e?
Edited by Coinfanmorgan
02/05/2013 9:44 pm
Rest in Peace
dave700x's Avatar
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 Posted 02/05/2013  9:20 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add dave700x to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I'm not familiar with 1921 varieties, but it appears the reverse die was polished to remove damage from a die clash event.
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Coinfanmorgan's Avatar
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 Posted 02/05/2013  9:26 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfanmorgan to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Why would anyone want to polish Morgan dollars in the first place? It makes no sense to me.
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 Posted 02/05/2013  9:41 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfanmorgan to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here is the VAM that I think matches the error on this one.

http://www.vamworld.com/1921-S+VAM-1E
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Coinfanmorgan's Avatar
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 Posted 02/05/2013  10:06 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfanmorgan to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
More pictures.

1921-S-Missing-Tail-Feathers-VAM-1e?

1921-S-Missing-Tail-Feathers-VAM-1e?
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SsuperDdave's Avatar
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 Posted 02/05/2013  10:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SsuperDdave to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I'm posting from my phone, so possibly not seeing important details.

First: 1921 Morgan production was driven by Pittman Act pressure; only 1889-P mintages reach the production levels of any of the three 1921 mints. They pushed these dies *hard,* and polishing was one way to maximize the life of a die. 1921's with incomplete tailfeathers are neither unusual nor more than a small detail in any known VAM; one could imagine die states of any given 1921 VAM to have more or less tailfeather detail, understanding it could also be a hub detail.

VAM-1E is characterized by reverse putting similar to the 1897 we've just discussed. Maybe a die state exists without that pitting, but it needs to have it to be 1E. Especially with 1921's, die pairs will probably always be an inexact science.
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Coinfanmorgan's Avatar
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 Posted 02/05/2013  10:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfanmorgan to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the information. I will continue to keep looking and see if it comes close to anything else.
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 Posted 02/06/2013  5:01 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfanmorgan to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Still trying to see whether or not this is a VAM. So far no luck, so I am wondering if it could be a variety that's not listed. Is it possible?
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SsuperDdave's Avatar
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 Posted 02/06/2013  5:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SsuperDdave to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
You could, quite literally, test your sanity trying to attribute 1921's. It'll require significant magnification and absolute determination on your part. Even with that, some 1921 VAMs still have no reference images posted anywhere, so you can never be sure.

Your first lines of attack are the "Scribbling Die Scratches." You'll need magnification capable of taking that small area left and right of the eagle's right leg in your detail pic, and making that area larger than the whole image as posted. Like so:

1921-S-Missing-Tail-Feathers-VAM-1e?

There's no Easy button.
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 Posted 02/06/2013  11:18 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfanmorgan to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the suggestions. I think my dad may have a special setting on his camera. For now, I'll assume it's a regular Morgan. It could be a few days since I'm away in college and my collection is back home.
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 Posted 02/10/2013  9:04 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Coinfanmorgan to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
SSuperDdave, what is the program or camera that you use for close ups? All I can get on paintshop pro are blurry. Yours are clear.
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SsuperDdave's Avatar
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 Posted 02/10/2013  9:49 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SsuperDdave to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
All I can get on paintshop pro are blurry. Yours are clear.


I was throwing $1500 worth of specialized photographic equipment at it. It had better be clear.

Canon T2i, on a custom-built bellows rig with a Rodenstock 75mm copying lens.
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