Question and you may not be able to help with these pictures. The light is sunlight other than the bright one had a flash. What range to do think this dollar grades.
On the reverse is there a line/scratch that goes through America? Also on the obverse is that a line/scratch from under the L in liberty to her eye starting right around 10 o'clock? Peace dollars are tough for me, I believe this is around MS-62 if those lines don't exist, AU-55 if they are true scratches.
I am thinking AU55 from the weakness around the hair. That could be a weak die but that's my guess from these picture.
The hair definitely looks like wear. The scratches on the obverse are scratches on the plastic I'm pretty sure. There's a long scratch on the reverse on the eagle's wing. I would say it would grade AU50 or so.
i would say au-55, if it was not for them scratches on the reverse, it would be a bit better. nice peace dollar, though!
Keep in mind the 1921 Peace Dollars were high relief and did not always fully strike up. From the photos I cannot tell if there is luster on the weak areas (which would indicate the coin is MS but weakly struck) or if the weak areas are worn (which would indicate the coin is circulated).
AU53. There is wear not only wear on the high points but in the fields as well. The coin might have a shot at 55 if not for the album slide marks, but they are definitely there and rightly should drop it 1 grade.
The slide in that old dansco is banged up alot. The marks are on the plastic not the coin. The photos were taken in direct sunlight other than the bright one which was taken with a flash. I didn't have time to get the Ott lights out and do it right. My worry about the coin is not the detail around the hair as few 21's have a full strike but the lack of true luster on the obverse. In hand the reverse still has a good amount of luster.
I am a little more optimistic on this one. I say MS-62. Weak strikes do not affect the technical grade for this issue. The strike exhibited on this coin is actually average for this MM/year combination. So you cannot claim AU based on the highpoints. That being said, the photographs don't show if there are any luster breaks across the high points. On 1921 Peace Dollars, you are either going to have a well struck coin with little luster, or a weakly struck coin with decent luster, depending on which of the 4 days in was minted. In the first 2 days of mintage (in Dec 1921), the coins were struck at higher pressure, resulting in well-struck coins, but die life suffered. In the second 2 days of mintage, the striking pressure was reduced to extend die life, but as a consequence, the higher points of the designs are rendered very mushy. In some of these weekly struck specimens, you cannot discern a difference between the 2 locks of hair next to liberty's ear. Well struck issues are difficult to find, and command a premium.
I guess I need to take the time and give better photos. The comments so far validate my opinion on the coin. It is either a nice AU slider or a 63 coin. The luster on the reverse is better than that of the obverse. I feel that the coin has an above-average strike but still feel the flatness in the hair is strike and not wear. What concerns me is the lack of luster that I would expect for a 62-63 coin. Maybe Jersey Cat's comments answer this. I never knew that they were minted in four days. So is their such a thing as a full strike with great luster 21 peace dollar? Would the high pressure on the dies ruin the polish of the dies thus effecting the luster, is that how it would work? Just can't decide if I think its a AU 55/58 or a 62/63 coin. I have been leaning towards the 62 grade but am wishy washy on it.
i could see it sliding into a low ms, if most of those scratches are on the plastic. also depending on luster and detail in hand. good info on the coin jerseycat! even though peace dollars are a beautiful type, i am not collecting them yet, so i don't know much.
They are a fun set to assemble, especially in certified condition, because there is only 24 date/mm combinations, and all are readily affordable except for the 1934-S. Anyone with an interest in Peace Dollars should pick up a copy of Roger Burdette's Guide To Peace Dollars. It is the authoratative book on Peace Dollars.
