1921 (S) Morgan Dollar - VAM-1BA

Description

VAM-1BA on the 1921 San Francisco Morgan Dollar is cataloged as IV1, D2a (Scribbling Die Scratches #10) with die pair 189. The reverse (D2a) displays fine die scratches running in various directions on over-polished tail feathers around the eagle's right leg and between the eagle's left wing and body — the hallmark pattern of scribbling die scratches, here designated number 10. A die marker of double horizontal polishing lines at the middle inside of the eagle's right leg feathers provides a secondary attribution point. In 1921, dates were part of the master die, so there is no variation in date position across die pairs. The use of die pair 189 places this coin among the standard hub combinations for the 1921 date. Scribbling die scratches on Morgan Dollars result from aggressive die polishing or lapping, where abrasive material is worked across the die surface in multiple directions, leaving a characteristic web of fine lines that transfer onto struck coins. The 1921-S was the last San Francisco Morgan Dollar, and its varieties — including the numbered scribbling sequence — continue to be systematically cataloged by VAM researchers.

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