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Roger Burdette's (RWB) Photo Strike Comparison: 1921 Peace Dollar (VAM-1O) - PCGS-64 Clashed Reverse
Stuart
Posts: 9,793 ✭✭✭✭✭
Here's a new purchase 1921 Peace Dollar (VAM-1O) Clashed Reverse which possesses a very strong strike. I have not yet seen the coin in person, but am looking forward to receiving it next week.
Specialists will recognize that 1921 Peace Dollars are very tough to find with well defined central hair details and overall strong strikes.
The following original auction photos were taken in rather harsh lighting, and are a bit "grainy" and low resolution. After receiving the coin I'll take higher resolution photos to post on this forum.
I'll be interested in getting other forum members opinions regarding this intriguing coin.
1921 Peace Dollar (VAM-1O) - PCGS MS-64 - Clashed Reverse - Very Strong Strike
Specialists will recognize that 1921 Peace Dollars are very tough to find with well defined central hair details and overall strong strikes.
The following original auction photos were taken in rather harsh lighting, and are a bit "grainy" and low resolution. After receiving the coin I'll take higher resolution photos to post on this forum.
I'll be interested in getting other forum members opinions regarding this intriguing coin.
1921 Peace Dollar (VAM-1O) - PCGS MS-64 - Clashed Reverse - Very Strong Strike
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
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Look forward to your images.
Mike
Sunnywood's Rainbow-Toned Morgans (Retired)
Sunnywood's Barber Quarters (Retired)
Just as idle speculation, they may have been experimenting with trying to make this design strike better, and either increased the pressure or set the dies to come closer together, or both. Under such conditions, when the dies did clash they would clash HARD!
TD
<< <i>Just as idle speculation, they may have been experimenting with trying to make this design strike better, and either increased the pressure or set the dies to come closer together, or both. Under such conditions, when the dies did clash they would clash HARD! >>
Hi Tom: In reply to your above quoted message board post, Roger Burdette (RWB) told me that he suspects that the reverse of the subject coin was clashed against a different obverse die, and that the obverse die used for this coin was a new and different one.
He asked me to check for signs of clashing on the obverse of this coin after I receive it, which I'll be pleased to do. I'll carefully examine the obverse to see if there are any evident clash marks, and will also take some higher resolution photos to post on this message board.
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
Following are my initial digital images. I'll try to take some better photos this weekend.
In reply to Roger Burdette's (RWB) question, I do not see any die clash marks on the obverse of this coin to correspond to those on the reverse side. -- In fact, it looks to me like the mint workers tried to remove or minimize evidence of the clash marks by polishing the reverse dies in the clash marked areas.
So, as Roger suspected the reverse of this coin was likely clashed against a different obverse die, and the obverse die used for this coin was a new and different one.
This is the most strongly struck 1921 Peace Dollar in my collection.
1921 Peace Dollar (VAM-1O) Clashed Reverse - Very Strong Strike
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
U.S. Type Set
<< <i>
An amazing piece. HUGE strike.
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He said that my coin's central detail, especially on the split hair in front of the ear, is better than his -- and possibly the best that he's ever seen.
The peripheral details on my coin are slightly soft, especially the 92 in date and rays near "I." Also, the lettering is not quite as full and sharp as on his coin. On the reverse, the strike is not quite as strong as on the obverse. This is noticeable at the center of the eagle (wing and leg) and downward to the talons and the word Peace.
Roger concludes by saying "Over all, my coin's obverse is one of the very best strikes - and certainly as good or better than some pieces labeled "proof". The reverse is quite good but not comparable to the obverse in detail. An exceptionally nice coin and certainly worth a substantial premium to anyone who understands the design or wants the best regardless of "grading numbers."
The following is Roger's side-by-side photo comparison that depicts some of his observations.
1921 Peace (VAM-1O) - Roger Burdette's (RWB) Strike Comparison Photos with My Coin
Roger Burdette has granted permission to post his plate coin photos for strike comparison purposes
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
<< <i>I believe Skyman's example wins hands down as to the best strike imho. >>
I think Skyman's reverse is better struck, but Stewart's obverse is much better. The hair detail over and around Liberty's ear is freakish. Of course this same detail is great on Skyman's coin as well which is an area that is almost always flat on other 1921's.
I guess we'd need to see both coins imaged in the same lighting to be sure.
<< <i>I fully realize how much of a nerd this post makes me seem, but that is one magnificent 1921 Peace dollar! I only hope none of my kids see this post.
Mark - We are all nerds. Just own it.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>Roger Burdette (RWB) told me via personal communication (permission granted to post) that he compared the obverse of my new 1921 Peace Dollar (VAM-1O) (left coin below) with the monster struck plate coin in his "A Guide Book of Peace Dollars" (right coin below).
He said that my coin's central detail, especially on the split hair in front of the ear, is better than his -- and possibly the best that he's ever seen.
The peripheral details on my coin are slightly soft, especially the 92 in date and rays near "I." Also, the lettering is not quite as full and sharp as on his coin. On the reverse, the strike is not quite as strong as on the obverse. This is noticeable at the center of the eagle (wing and leg) and downward to the talons and the word Peace.
Roger concludes by saying "Over all, my coin's obverse is one of the very best strikes - and certainly as good or better than some pieces labeled "proof". The reverse is quite good but not comparable to the obverse in detail. An exceptionally nice coin and certainly worth a substantial premium to anyone who understands the design or wants the best regardless of "grading numbers."
The following is Roger's side-by-side photo comparison that depicts some of his observations.
1921 Peace (VAM-1O) - Roger Burdette's (RWB) Strike Comparison Photos with My Coin
Nice pictures. Really show off how stunning the coin on the left is.
U.S. Type Set
It seems that mint workers tried to remove the clash marks from the reverse dies of both of our coins, as evidenced by the polished surfaces and numerous die striations concentrated in the clash marked areas.
Thanks for posting your coin for comparison purposes.
1921 Peace Dollar (VAM-1O) - PCGS MS-64 - Clashed Reverse - Very Strong Strike
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"