1921-P VAM-1AJ

Description

Classified as 1921-P VAM-1AJ with the designation IV1 – D1a (Scribbling Die Scratches) and die pairing number 189, this Morgan Dollar exhibits a reverse (D1a) displaying fine die scratches running in various directions across over-polished tail feathers around the eagle’s right leg, between the eagle’s left wing and body, and in the middle of the eagle’s left wing. These "scribbling die scratches" result from aggressive die polishing where maintenance personnel attempted to remove clash marks, flow lines, or surface imperfections by filing and polishing the die face, leaving multidirectional striations that are unique to each polishing event. The reverse die marker is a short horizontal die scratch above the left wreath bow ribbon, providing a specific attribution point for confirming this variety. The 1921-P Morgan Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the final year of Morgan Dollar production, when the series was briefly resumed before being replaced by the Peace Dollar later that year. In 1921, dates were part of the master die rather than individually punched, so there is no variation in date position — a characteristic unique to the 1921 Morgan Dollar that eliminates date positioning as a diagnostic variable and means all date-related features on 1921 Morgans originate from the master die rather than individual punch placement. Composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, the coin weighs 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. George T. Morgan’s design features Liberty in a Phrygian cap on the obverse and a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings on the reverse. The scribbling die scratch pattern’s multidirectional nature distinguishes it from linear polishing lines, as the filing was applied in multiple passes at varying angles rather than in a single consistent direction.

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