1921-D VAM-1BI

Description

Discovered by Bill Van Note in February 2005 and documented by VAMWorld, the 1921-D Morgan Dollar VAM-1BI is classified as IV 1 D2ab (Pitted Die OL) and belongs to the final year of Morgan Dollar production. The reverse D2ab die exhibits a pitted die condition with raised dots visible around the lower left of the first L in DOLLAR and on the right side of the O — these raised dots on struck coins correspond to small pits that developed in the die surface, where each pit creates a tiny raised bump on the coin. Die pitting can result from corrosion, rust, metal fatigue, or microscopic fractures in the die steel, and in the case of VAM-1BI, the pitting concentrates around specific letters of the DOLLAR inscription. A noteworthy production detail recorded in the catalog states that in 1921 dates were part of the master die, eliminating the date position variation that characterizes earlier Morgan Dollar dates where numerals were punched individually into working dies. The 1921-D Morgan Dollar was struck at the Denver Mint in 90% silver at 26.73 grams and 38.1 mm diameter, with a mintage of 20,345,000 pieces. George T. Morgan's obverse Liberty portrait and heraldic eagle reverse design saw their final year of regular production in 1921 before being succeeded by Anthony de Francisci's Peace Dollar design later that same year.

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