1921 Morgan Silver Dollar (Philadelphia) – 90% Silver – Final Year of Issue – Choice About Uncirculated to Mint State (AU 58 – MS 60 Details / Circulated Toning)

Technical Breakdown & Attribution

• Denomination: $1.00 / ONE DOLLAR

• Series: Morgan Silver Dollar (1878–1921)

• Year of Issue: 1921 (The final year of the Morgan dollar design)

• Mint Facility: Philadelphia Mint (No mint mark below the wreath bow on the reverse)

• Designer: George T. Morgan

• Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper (.900 Fine Silver)

• Precious Metal Content: 0.77344 Troy Ounces of pure silver

• Original US Mint Specifications:

  • Diameter: 38.1 mm

  • Standard Official Weight: 26.73 grams (Gross reading registers 26 g on a 1-gram resolution scale)

• Obverse Design: Profile bust of Lady Liberty facing left wearing a Phrygian cap decorated with wheat and cotton blossoms, inscribed "LIBERTY", encircled by 13 six-pointed stars, "E PLURIBUS UNUM", and date 1921.

• Reverse Design: Bald eagle with outstretched wings clutching an olive branch and arrows within an open laurel wreath, surmounted by motto "In God we trust", framed by "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and denomination "ONE DOLLAR".

Historical Significance: The 1921 Morgan Finale

1. The Pittman Act of 1918: Under wartime legislation, the U.S. government melted over 270 million older Morgan silver dollars into bullion to sell to Great Britain to prevent a monetary collapse in India. The law mandated that each melted dollar be recoined in silver after the war, leading to the massive 1921 mintage.

2. Re-Cut 1921 Dies: Because the original 1878–1904 master hubs had been destroyed in 1910, George T. Morgan had to carve new hubs by hand in 1921. As a result, 1921 Morgans exhibit distinct lower-relief portraits, wider stars, and slightly shallower eagle breast feather details compared to pre-1904 strikes.

3. Bridge to the Peace Dollar: Struck for only a single year in 1921 alongside the newly minted 1921 High Relief Peace Dollar, marking the ultimate conclusion of America's most famous silver coin series.

Condition & Visual Grade Assessment

• Assigned Technical Grade: Choice About Uncirculated to Low Mint State (AU 58 – MS 60 Details / Circulated Toning)

• Preservation Highlights & Surface Profile:

  • Strike & Detail: The hair curls above Liberty's ear and the cotton blossoms in the cap retain sharp structural definition. The reverse displays clear wing feather separation and well-preserved talons clutching the branch and arrows.

  • Luster & Surfaces: Retains underlying radial mint luster across the protected fields, visible beneath ambient surface aging. Very minor, scattered hairline contact marks consistent with light bag handling.

  • Toning & Patina: Displays natural, attractive peripheral slate-gray and amber-gold cabinet patina across both obverse and reverse fields, showing original uncleaned surfaces.

  • Rim & Edges: Complete, intact reeded edge and beaded denticles surrounding both borders without rim dings, gouges, or edge pinches.