1921-S VAM-1

Description

Designated the "Normal Die" for the 1921-S Morgan Dollar, VAM-1 establishes the baseline die marriage against which all other 1921-S varieties are measured. Every date and mintmark in the VAM catalog receives a VAM-1 to document typical characteristics, because identifying what is normal is essential to recognizing what is not. Classified as 1 IV 1 - D2a (Normal Die) and struck in 90% silver at the San Francisco Mint, this belongs to the final year of Morgan Dollar production. The obverse, designated IV 1, shows a spike on the right of F in OF — present across all 1921-S varieties — along with both 1s doubled at the top left. Because all 1921 Morgan Dollars used a single master die, date position shows no variation. The reverse, classified D2a, is a normal die of the D2 type with a small centered S mintmark. A spike above the bottom crossbar on the right side of F in OF appears across all die varieties. The 1921-S had the lowest mintage among the three 1921 Morgan issues, making even the normal die marriage a relatively scarce coin in the series.

External References