quote:
Originally posted by Metalman
Hi Rockwind
Your in luck we have a resident expert on the 1921 Morgans,,(Superdave) Just be patient since today is Thanksgiving and I'm not sure he will be around until later or perhaps maybe even tomorrow.
Rick
Who, me?
Rockwind, for a bit of background, check out my rather long-winded post in this thread:
https://goccf.com/t/9382Knowing that differently-sized punches were used to create the mint marks on Morgans, I can see one coin having a mintmark that was noticeably larger than the next, even from the same year. Another possibility is that the person doing the punch inadvertently created a doubled mintmark, and then repunched it to fudge the difference, creating a final mintmark that was both larger and deeper than it was supposed to be.
I'm aware of a smaller and a larger mintmark on 1921-S's, but the larger of the two isn't disproportionately huge, and indeed even smaller than on some earlier years. It would sure be of assistance if you could get a picture of the coin up here. If you're unable to post one, you can email it to me and I'll take care of it.
Now, don't decide that your coins are "nothing spectacular" until you've checked them for interesting
VAM's. Some
VAM's are worth significant money to collectors even in circulated condition. If you'd like, post a list of what you've got, including mintmark, and we can give you an idea what to look for. Another thing you could do is stop here for a look at the best database of desirable
VAM's on the planet:
http://vamworld.wikispaces.com/Morgan+VAMs+By+DateTheir listing is by no means complete - all Morgans have a
VAM number and there are over 4,000 right now) - but the ones of greatest interest are the ones getting pages at Vamworld the soonest.
Now, concerning your 1921-S's. There are a few potential areas of interest, which I'll picture below:
1) The Thornhead - VAM-1B1-1B7. This variation comes in 8 flavors, all of which share a unique die gouge on the obverse:
Note the line between the cap and leaf which I've circled in black. If any of your coins has this line, you've got something of high interest. Mine, pictured, is a VAM-1B5.
2) VAM-6a, Die Gouge BU of PLURIBUS. Like the Thornhead, this one's easily visible even in poor photographs:
It's relatively common, but interesting, and there's a version with a struck-through-grease mintmark that for all the world looks like a Philadelphia mintage, but has the characteristic line between the B and U. If you ever find what looks like a 1921-P with this gouge, snag it immediately.
3) VAM-1F Beanie S. This one has a die break above the second S in STATES on the reverse:
4) VAM-1L/1Y. These have diagonal lines extending downward from the denticles at the top of the reverse, circled in red in the picture:
Mine's the 1L, and has two lines per denticle. The VAM-1Y has only one line per denticle, but looks similar. Bother are recent discoveries (in the last 6 months), and not many have been attributed yet.
This is by no means a complete list of even 1921-S
VAM's, but just a few of the more interesting ones. Almost every year and mint of
Morgan dollar has at least one
VAM associated with it which commands interest, and usually a premium, over more "normal" coins from that year.
Feel like you're being buried under information? Yep, you're right. That's why I "specialize" in 1921's. However, I have a passing interest in all Morgan
VAM's, and there are other members here who are better qualified than I to help you identify all of your Morgans.
Posted 11/23/2006 3:51 pm
