The first is an 1880 and the second is a 1921. Can I assume the second is representative of all 1921s (all mints) and the first is representtative of all non-1921s (all mints)? Reason I ask is I don't see this distinction referenced here: http://www.lotn.org/~calkinsc/coins/doc/morganreverses.html.
The following is a list of hub design changes for Morgan dollars - 1878-1903 Morgan 7 tail feathers, slanting arrow feathers 1900-1904 Rev revised: stars larger, left wing angle wider These come struck better than the prior issues. Proofs are available, but pricey. 1921 Morgan new obverse and reverse 1921 Morgan 16 berries, infrequently reeded ?? 16 vs 17 berry types exist, test marks on the dies? ?? Infrequently reeded is the only collar die variety in this list.
Thanks. I'm trying to determine if the single berry under the top clump of leaves is the "signature" hub design for all 1921 die reverses. Seems to me it is. The configuration/orientation of the berries under the second clump of leaves seems dispositive, also. Check out your 21s and non-21s and see if this distinction doesn't hold. All I can do is infer from my limited examples...
There's an easy way to do some checking on your own, just go to the Heriatge web site and check all of the '21s that have been sold over the years
This link might help. In general, Morgans have four reverses ... A, B, C, and D. D was only used in 1921. And there's the 7/8 TF which would be a B/A. Even within each primary reverse, there are differences. For example, there's a D1 and D2 reverse for 1921. The D1 has 17 berries and the D2 has 16. EDIT: see what happens when you try to work at home and surf the internet at the same time? I posted the same link that you aleady had.
Thanks for your time on this one guys. I can tell you this. I've been aware of this distinction between the 21 and non-21 reverses for quite some time, and I've yet to see it fail to check out. All I look for is a single berry under the top-right clump of leaves in the wreath. If it's there, the reverse is a 21. If not, a non-21. Invariably. Never failed yet. So I figured this might have been noted somewhere...
