NGC Grader Spots Rare Morgan Dollar Variety

An NGC grader was examining a bulk submission of nearly 1,000 Morgan Dollars when one coin stood out. The submission comprised a variety of dates and most of the coins were in low grades. These coins might sell for anywhere from $30 to $300 after NGC certification.

The sharp-eyed NGC grader saw one coin though that he instantly recognized to be an elusive Morgan variety worth upwards of $1,000. At first glance this coin appears to be a 1921 Morgan Dollar struck at Philadelphia with no mintmark. However, it is actually a San Francisco 1921 Morgan Dollar with a nearly invisible outline of the “S” mintmark – a result of the coining die being filled with grease at the location of the mintmark.

Left: Outline of "S" Mintmark; Right: Raised Die Gouge Click images to enlarge.

The grader knew that the key diagnostic for this scarce variety was a raised die gouge between the B and U of PLURIBUS on the obverse, which is prominently seen on this example. Morgan Dollar varieties are attributed as “VAMs,” an acronym created from the first letters of the last names of Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis, the authors of the first reference book for Morgan Dollar varieties. This coin is attributed as 1921-S VAM-6B and is listed as one of the “Hit List 40” VAMs.

NGC offers its VarietyPlus® attribution service for major varieties of United States coins. To have a variety evaluated by NGC, simply select VarietyPlus on the NGC submission form. NGC publishes a complete list of varieties it recognizes along with helpful attribution tips and photographs on the NGC website under “NGC Research.” Visit the free VarietyPlus resource now >

NGC Dealers and Collectors Society Elite members can take advantage of bulk submission rates for eligible coin types. A bulk submission is considered to be 100 or more coins of the same type. Learn more about bulk submission rates >