Hello, Purchased this 1921-D Morgan Silver Dollar off GC and received in the mail yesterday. After taking a closer look, I notice several die cracks and am having trouble matching it to a VAM off VAM-World's website. Any help is appreciated. What is marked in red is where the die cracks are.
Another thing I noticed is that the reverse seems a little crooked in alignment compared to the obverse... am I wrong?
Alignment is off by maybe 5° or so. Well within tolerance. 1921-D Morgans are famous for die cracks and breaks. In 2003, Rob Joyce wrote a book, Fun with 1921, that explored known die breaks on 1921-D Morgans. This work put die breaks on the VAM map, and eventually led to the creation of VAMWorld in 2006, when he decided he couldn't keep up with new information fast enough to be able to update his book. Regarding your coin, I can't match the cracks with anything in the 21-D crack guide on VAMWorld, but that doesn't mean it's a new variety. Many of these are listed for "scribbling scratches" in the overpolished area above the eagle's right (viewer's left) foot. Chances are pretty good you'll find a match there, but it can be a tedious slog if you don't have a microscope.
Very interesting information, and no, I don't have a microscope so it is possibility that will remain unanswered (Lol) If 1921-D Morgan's were the cause behind the creation of VAM-World, what is so special or different about this year or mint site that caused so many different die cracks?
It has to do with the way Denver hardened and used their dies. They just tended to crack more. At the other extreme, San Francisco under-hardened their dies and they turned to mush. 1921-D Morgans are always sharply detailed, while a sharply detailed 1921-S is quite scarce. 1921-P are sharp, but tend to be frostier and develop just a little die erosion. I can often tell which mint an uncirculated 1921 Morgan is from by looking only at the obverse, and I can almost always identify a 21-S that way.
Yeah, I've noticed S Minted coins tend to have a poorer strike. That is my next task, finding a 1921-S Morgan
Depending on how hard you want to look, try and find one with nice details. The stars and date are the first things to mush out on the dies.
Regardless of one's budget, being able to cherrypick for quality is a way to extend the purchasing power of that budget. If you see 10 1921-S MS63 Morgans generically priced at $70 each and can find one that's a little better than the others, be it sharp details, luster, eye-appeal, you've just come out ahead by doing so.
