1921 Morgan Dollar - VAM-1AO

Description

Classified as 1AO IV1 - D1a (Scribbling Die Scratches) with die pairing number 189, the 1921-P VAM-1AO Morgan Dollar documents a scribbling die scratch pattern on the reverse where fine die scratches run in various directions across over-polished tail feathers around the eagle's right leg and between the eagle's left wing and body. The die marker for attribution is a single horizontal polishing line in the field above the eagle's right shoulder — a solitary linear mark whose isolation in the open field area makes it a clear and quickly identifiable diagnostic against the otherwise clean surrounding surface. The DPIS notation confirms that 1921 dates were part of the master die, eliminating date position as a variable for attribution. The Morgan Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1921 in 90% silver at 26.73 grams with a 38.1 mm diameter. George T. Morgan's design was in its final production year. The single horizontal polishing line above the eagle's right shoulder distinguishes VAM-1AO from the dozens of other scribbling die scratch varieties documented for the 1921-P date, where each unique die marker pattern identifies a specific working die within the massive 1921 Philadelphia die inventory.

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