1921-D JOH-15 Morgan

nesvt

I just got this 1921-D JOH-15 Morgan dollar today. I think the seller is a forum member. It's a great coin... I own another JOH-15 in a little better condition. I noticed something on the one I received today. I was wondering if anyone else had a JOH-15, and if they had the same characteristics.

There are lines on the obverse in the denticles. The go from the 1st U in PLURIBUS to the 1st U in UNUM. It looks like there are two lines running side by side. Over the U in UNUM, there's a blob in the denticles.

Anyone else have this or heard of this or have any idea what it is? I've never seen a long parallel die crack in the denticles.

nwcs

Not sure but those are great pics. All the ideas I have to cause those features don't explain everything well enough for me. But my best guess is that some light grinding was done on the periphery of the die before more strikings were made.

nesvt

<< <i>Not sure but those are great pics. All the ideas I have to cause those features don't explain everything well enough for me. But my best guess is that some light grinding was done on the periphery of the die before more strikings were made. >>



Thanks. I have no idea what it could be. It's around one third of the coin. It's not uniform... the two lines don't run "exactly" parallel with eachother.
I thought the other JOH-15 that I have is in a later die state, but these raised lines are strange. My coins are very circulated. I know a forum member that has another JOH-15 that's in mint state. I sent a PM and hope for some info later.

bigger picture 1
bigger picture 2

Wolf359

I've got them on my coin too. Whether it's significant or not....don't know. You'd have to have Leroy take a look.

nesvt

<< <i>I've got them on my coin too. Whether it's significant or not....don't know. You'd have to have Leroy take a look. >>



Thanks Jack. I'm still thinking this should get a VAM assignment. Even without the cracks through the star, the die gouges through 1/3 of the denticles looks significant enough. I'm too much of a newbie to send anything to Leroy.

Rampage

Very nice looking coin there. Congratulations on the find. I have only found one JOH coin. Forget now which one it was. I put it back in the box by mistake. When I went back to get it, it was gone.

ibzman350

Yep, I can see it on mine, good eye




Herb

nesvt

Thanks for checking Herb. Believe it or not, I just dug through some coins and found another. This one is probably XF and looks cleaned. I have three JOH-15's now. I guess that means they'll never be worth anything.

Edited: and this one also has the lines in the denticles and the blob near the U.

Oney

Parden my ignorance....JOH?

nesvt

<< <i>Parden my ignorance....JOH? >>



It stands for JOyce Hart.... Rob Joyce and Jim Hart. There are diagnostics captured on Morgan dollars that were not significant enough to be given a VAM number (Van Allen and Mallis). The variety was recorded and given numbers by Joyce and Hart. At least that's the way I understood it. Some JOH's have been found in later die states (die cracks, die breaks) that have now been given VAM numbers.

Edit: I should add that Rob Joyce has a book called "Fun with 1921". Along with some amazing photos and details on 1921-D die breaks, it has listings of several JOH varieties.

Oney

I have started another thread to see if someone can help me with my 1921-D.....if you wouldn't mind please have a look and reply. Thanks. My New Thread