1921-P VAM-1AI
Error
Description
Attributed as VAM-1AI, this 1921 Philadelphia Mint Morgan Dollar belongs to the final year of Morgan Dollar production with die pair IV1 and reverse D1a. The obverse shows slight doubling on the front hair and top of the Phrygian cap. The reverse is the primary point of interest: fine die scratches in various directions appear on overpolished tail feathers around the eagle's right leg and between the left wing and body, described as scribbling die scratches. A vertical die scratch below the lower inner feather of the eagle's left wing provides the key reverse die marker. In 1921, dates were part of the master die rather than individually punched. This variety is an evil mimic with 1921-P VAM-95, meaning the two can be confused without careful examination of distinguishing markers. The notation to disregard the chip at Y in LIBERTY is significant — that feature is a hub marker present on all dies from the same hub, not a die-specific marker. Hub markers can mislead attributors who mistake universal hub characteristics for individual die diagnostics.
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