VAMWorld 2.0

Thanks to the Newman Numismatic Portal (NNP) supported by the Eric P Newman Numismatic Education Society, collectors of Morgan and Peace dollars (and other coins) have access to a growing stock of original documents from the U.S. Mint archives held at the National Archives and Records Administration...

A key "takeaway" is that the numeric "grade" and strength of detail are not related to one anther by the TPGs. Thus, the posted photo could be anywhere from "AU-58 to MS-68" and still have the same detail as shown. My suggestion is to look for the best possible detail first, then numeric grade. Also...

Messydesk's comment is on the nose. My opinion is that in this instance detail overrides a bit of wear or a few marks. But -- be very critical and look for detail throughout the coin, not just on the central hair. The mumps observation is consistent with President Harding's complaint about Liberty's...

Many collectors want to have a 1921 Peace dollar as an example of the only high relief circulation coin that is reasonably affordable. Finding a really nice example is a challenge, but not impossible, especially if some idiosyncrasies of this one-year issue are understood. First, fully 90+% of the i...

A 1921 with detail similar to the posted photo is almost "never too expensive."

In the early 1960s it was commonplace to find 1/2 or more of a fresh bag containing PL dollars....Much depended on the number of presses being run on the day the coins were struck. I recall a local bank teller pouring out a bag of glittering Morgans and complainant to me that they were all the same ...

I admire your gumption in searching for a real MS-66 1921 peace dollar. The major grading companies do not seem to consider detail when grading these, and grade inflation has made a real MS-66 into at least a 67 or better when in a new holder. Detail of design is always a problem for this design and...

"Provenance" not "pedigree."

The coin shown in the OP's photos was made from the first pair of low relief hubs made in 1922. These were soon modified by George Morgan with the most obvious alteration being closure of the gap between the base of the olive branch and the eagle (2nd hubs). Also, many dies from the 1st reverse hub ...

The pieces might have been made at any time after the dates on coins - or over a period of several years. They do not seem to be rare - almost in the "Henning counterfeit nickel" category.

The subject of counterfeit silver dollars of various dates, but of similar characteristics is one of those “numismatic mysteries” that begs speculation and inventive explanations. Over the years I’ve been on the lookout for anything mentioning these coins or circumstances that might help understand ...

Not sure if this will be of any help....

CascadeChris – I’m not aware of anything in print that is more than a superficial comment or two about the relationship of the engravers at the Philadelphia Mint during this period. There is also much innuendo and a lot of absurd comments by Breen and his acolytes. The initial post is a fairly good ...

Contrary to common belief and older hobby books, George T. Morgan was not made an assistant engraver at the Philadelphia Mint when he arrived from London in October 1876. That happened in January 1880. Morgan was a direct employee of Mint Headquarters in Washington D.C., and given the title “Special...

William Barber's original reverse for the dollar was made according to suggestions by Linderman. The Director not only wanted an "ideal head of Liberty" for the obverse, but wanted silver coin reverses to have just the denomination and an ornamental wreath. This was consistent with French and other ...

For those who want more of the standard silver dollar background, see "Girl on the Silver Dollar" by yours truly. ANA has copies for loan to ANA members.

If George Morgan had stayed in London ---

Thanks! Glad you are finding From Mine to Mint interesting and informative. I tried to cover the "basics" of US Mint operations and machinery, and put it into one volume. (The CD is fully searchable and intended to replace a traditional index.) Some of the JNR issues (#1 and #3) cover the Janvier re...

Members should feel free to ask if I have data on some date/MM of coin or mint production process. The database is much more extensive than I can ever publish, and it is only by members questions that I can relay possibly useful information. Since I do not collect by variety, I do not know the quest...

Members should rest assured that I have not been converted to "VAMing," however much I appreciate members research into variety details. My purpose is to add occasional pieces of context that might help members more clearly understand how and why these varieties exist. The unfortunate fact is that v...