Maybe I'm wrong about this, but I thought that all 1921 Peace Dollars were considered to be "high relief." If true, why are some (for example, in MS64 grades) designated by PCGS as "high relief" and others are not?
The "high relief" designation is requested by the submitter on the submission form to be stated on the holder. I think it's sort of like a die variety attribution, which would means there's another fee involved. But that's just my theory.
NGC does it too.... I'm not sure why... I have a 21 sitting at NGC right now they have designated as a high relief. I didn't pay any extra for the attribution.
Thanks for the replies. I have an MS64 designated by PCGS as high relief. Just thought maybe I was missing something ($$$ :smile) other than just being an inconsistent designation.
Might depend on how the coin is described on the submission form. Submit you dollar and call it high relief on the form and the guy opening the packages and entering them into the computer types in High Relief, your coin comes back labeled High Relief. Just say 1921 Peace dollar on the form and it doesn't come back as High relief.
PCGS always puts something extra on the label for 1921 Peace Dollars to differentiate them from the 1921 Morgan Dollars. Usually they put the word "Peace" on the label (and "Morgan" on the Morgans). Older PCGS slabs also would include the words "High Relief" but I do not think you can get them to do it on a submission today. The older slabs that also say "High Relief" use the same coin number (PCGS #7356) as the newer slabs that just say "Peace."
This topic was addressed recently on the NGC forum. D.W. Lange (the director of research at NGC) commented directly in that thread that: "Adding HIGH RELIEF was a marketing decision, not a numismatic one. I believe the Red Book labels it this way, too, and dealers didn't want customers to be disappointed by not seeing it. The situation is similar to specifying RAYS on 1866 nickels and ARROWS on 1874 dimes; they don't exist without those features, but many type coin buyers expect to see them." I presume the reasoning for such a designation on the PCGS slabs is similar. There is NO additional cost for this designation at NGC, and you get it without requesting it. If PCGS is charging for such a designation I would be surprised, as every 1921 Peace Dollar qualifies. Take away message is, don't get your britches all in a bunch. Much ado about nothing here...
Nice looking coin. Very good eye appeal for a '21. So many ones that have the dull appearance, even if MS. That one is nice.
Does your coin have the "series" and "coin" number on the label as well... I haven't seen any of the newer blue labeled holders say "high relief." But I have seen the older blue labeled holders that list the series and coin number have "high relief" on the label as well. Since we're posting pics, here's a short video of my MS64+ example (with a repeater serial number, haha): [video=youtube_share;wNY78ufnt5g]http://youtu.be/wNY78ufnt5g[/video]