The Morgan Silver Dollar, minted in 1921, has a special place in the hearts of coin collectors and history enthusiasts alike. This iconic coin was produced in the aftermath of World War 1 and carries a rich history.
And as is the case with numerous precious metal coins, Morgan’s history is very broad and detailed, with far too many interesting pieces of information to cover in its entirety in one article.
So, we decided to simply share five fun facts that many collectors enjoy most about the 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar:
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The End of an Era
The Morgan Silver Dollar of 1921 was the last regular issue with this design. It signified the completion of the Morgan Dollar series, which had been produced since 1878. It was replaced by the Peace Dollar in 1921, which was introduced to commemorate the end of World War I. Subsequently, the final-year Morgan Silver Dollar holds historical significance as the last mint in a numismatic era.
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A Massive Mintage
One of the many interesting aspects regarding the 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar is its large production scale. With a mintage of over 86 million coins, it holds the record for the biggest mintage of any Morgan Dollar. This massive supply has made it reasonably accessible to collectors, despite its historical significance.
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Multiple Mint Mark Varieties
This Morgan Dollar was minted at four different U.S. Mint facilities:
- Philadelphia (no mint mark)
- Denver (D)
- San Francisco (S)
- Denver Mint overdate (D over S)
The Denver Mint variety is especially sought after due to its distinctive characteristics and rarity. It is estimated that only a small number of the 1921 Morgan Dollars possess this intriguing mint mark.
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Raised Relief Variety
A unique variety of the 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar, known as the “high relief” or “raised relief”, exists. This variety features a more elevated and pronounced design on both sides of the coin. The raised relief variety came about as the result of a modification made to the coin dies in the early stages of the production process. While most of the 1921 Morgan Dollars bear the standard relief, the raised relief variety is considered a captivating anomaly and is highly sought after by collectors.
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A Numismatic Renaissance
The 1921 Morgan Dollar also experienced a numismatic renaissance during the 1960s and 1970s. There was a huge surge of interest in coin collecting during this period, and the 1921 Morgan Dollar became increasingly popular. Many coins from this era were discovered in Treasury vaults and released to the public, creating a major boom in the market.
This suddenly renewed interest in the Morgan Silver Dollar sparked revitalization in the hobby and brought mainstream brought attention to the historical significance of these iconic coins.
Adding 1921 Morgan Silver Dollars to Your Collection
The 1921 Morgan Dollar represents the end of an era in which many collectors and historians wish to commemorate and preserve. With its unique characteristics and historical importance, this silver dollar continues to captivate coin enthusiasts worldwide.
