Thoughts on this 1921 dollar.

[morganguru]

At one time these were considered a drag on the market and dealers would buy anything except 1921P Morgans. They usually come dull, shallow, lifeless and with little color. Which leads into the next question. Why were they dull and lacking visual appeal? Was it because the dies weren't basined? Less striking pressure? The silver used was recycled Pittman Act coins? The silver wasn't freshly mined? To add, 21 Morgans aren't usually seen with attractive color. Why is this?

Not spectacular by any stretch, but it does have some color, somewhat appealing IMO.

Scott

 

 

 

[Paul S]

It is a well known fact that '21 Morgans don't tone in nearly the same way as 1904 and earlier Morgans. This is likely due to the way in which the planchets were prepared. They might have been given an step of some sort that changed the chemical properties of the coins which leads to a overall different look and feel than the earlier years. 1921 Morgans seem to have been struck on the same kinds of planchets that the Peace dollars were struck on, as they rarely come with nice color either.

 

As for why they come so dull and lifeless, this could be due to the fact that the mint just hadn't been striking silver dollars for a while and they simply were not very good at it. Additionally, the hubs for the Morgan dollar were destroyed well before 1921, so they had to be remade. This means that the dies were completely different, which would also lead to the perceived differences in the finished product.

 

Hope that helped!

 

 

 

 

-Paul

[morganguru]

I wonder what the Gov't did with the 270+ million dollars melted down in 1918. Any chance this silver was used to strike 1921 dollars? I remember reading somewhere that the Mint could only use mined silver. Guess I'll have to dig a bit deeper.

[bsshog40]

I like the Morgan. I think it looks nice!

[jerseycat10]

I wonder what the Gov't did with the 270+ million dollars melted down in 1918. Any chance this silver was used to strike 1921 dollars? I remember reading somewhere that the Mint could only use mined silver. Guess I'll have to dig a bit deeper.

 

IIRC, the melted silver was sent overseas to Britain/India.

 

The silver for 1921 Morgan and 1921-1935 Peace Dollars was mined specifically per the Pittman Act.

[mkman123]

that coin looks neat

[Conder101]

The silver for 1921 Morgan and 1921-1935 Peace Dollars was mined specifically per the Pittman Act.

The 21-28 Peace yes, the 1934 and 35's were from a different authorization that I do not believe required the silver to be newly mined.

[RWB]

All of the Pittman dollars (1921-1928) were struck from domestically mined silver purchased for $1.01 per T. ounce. The 1934-35 coins were also from domestic silver bought under two different provisions.

 

You can find the details in A Guide Book of Peace Dollars, 2nd edition (Whitman Publishing). The Pittman material is near the beginning. There's also detailed research about the 1964-D dollars.

 

For specialists there is a CD with a longer, more detailed essay on the Pittman Act, and a complete day-by-day production record from 1921-1928 for all three mints. This is titled Silver Dollars Struck Under the Pittman Act of 1918 (Seneca Mill Press LLC).

 

Both books are by the present writer.

 

[coinman1794]

It is a well known fact that '21 Morgans don't tone in nearly the same way as 1904 and earlier Morgans. This is likely due to the way in which the planchets were prepared. They might have been given an step of some sort that changed the chemical properties of the coins which leads to a overall different look and feel than the earlier years. 1921 Morgans seem to have been struck on the same kinds of planchets that the Peace dollars were struck on, as they rarely come with nice color either.

 

As for why they come so dull and lifeless, this could be due to the fact that the mint just hadn't been striking silver dollars for a while and they simply were not very good at it. Additionally, the hubs for the Morgan dollar were destroyed well before 1921, so they had to be remade. This means that the dies were completely different, which would also lead to the perceived differences in the finished product.

 

Hope that helped!

 

 

 

 

-Paul

 

Yes, and so many 1921 Morgans and all peace dollars are known with heavy milkspoting that were actually struck into the surface in most cases. This would seem to indicate that the planchets were rinsed, leaving a coating on them at the time of striking. This would affect the silver's ability ot oxidize the way most other coins do.

[L1ncolnF4n]

It is a well known fact that '21 Morgans don't tone in nearly the same way as 1904 and earlier Morgans. This is likely due to the way in which the planchets were prepared. They might have been given an step of some sort that changed the chemical properties of the coins which leads to a overall different look and feel than the earlier years. 1921 Morgans seem to have been struck on the same kinds of planchets that the Peace dollars were struck on, as they rarely come with nice color either.

 

As for why they come so dull and lifeless, this could be due to the fact that the mint just hadn't been striking silver dollars for a while and they simply were not very good at it. Additionally, the hubs for the Morgan dollar were destroyed well before 1921, so they had to be remade. This means that the dies were completely different, which would also lead to the perceived differences in the finished product.

 

Hope that helped!

 

 

 

 

-Paul

 

Yes, and so many 1921 Morgans and all peace dollars are known with heavy milkspoting that were actually struck into the surface in most cases. This would seem to indicate that the planchets were rinsed, leaving a coating on them at the time of striking. This would affect the silver's ability ot oxidize the way most other coins do.

 

I do recall reading somewhere that a new chemical rinse was used on 1921-28 dollars which caused the lack of attractive toning.

[RWB]

All silver planchets were processed the same way.