Can anyone tell me what is on top of this 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar and also them scratches on the obverse and reverse.
In the field, that little lump? You have to figure these dies were worked over pretty good. That was a small depression in the die, that's why it's raised on the coin.
Scare face under the eye. Other than that (from the photos) I can make no learned determination.......not that I could to begin with.
the bump in front of the nose on your coin is referred to as a "Goldfish". This 1921 P variety is actually on a number of VAM collector's radar and searched for regularly. It is VAM 3O on Vamworld. Bert
Remember what 1921 Morgans are and why there are so many of them and so many various die states out there. They were minted full speed to comply with the requirements of the Pittman Act of 1918, which had called for the mass melting of earlier dollars for the U.K. and India's WW1 settlement needs. The law then called for mass creation of other silver dollars made from western silver deposits for which the government overpaid. Nothing in coinage ever happens without SOME reason.
Yuppers! Bag marks and shipment induced bag rub. These puppies were shipped like crazy all over the country after having been struck from overused dies, set loosely so that striking detail was crummy, and quality control was nearly absent. Striking them in mass quantities is why other coins of 1921 tend to be keys - dollars pushed aside other denominations. Put a nice 1904-O next to a '21(P) - the 04 makes the 21 look sick.
