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Another 1921 Dollar - GTG - "Better than average" strike

EVERYONE believes their 1921 has a 'better than average' strike. I am no exception. Submitted below is a 1921 I purchased from a forum member here around 10 years ago - and it is still the best struck version I have ever owned.

Guess the grade if you'd like, also feel free to agree with or counter my claims of what I will from now on call "BTAS". image

Pay attention to the details in Liberty's hair, the feather definition in the eagle, the tips of the rays on the reverse. Bland hair and weak feather definition are somewhat normal, but some of 1921s strike weakness extends all the way to the lettering of the legend. I believe mine escapes all the normal pitfalls of the date. (Though I, like everyone else, am probably biased by my ownership of the coin)



image

Comments

  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,850 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'll give her an MS63, final answer. The reverse is higher but the stuff on the cheek is limiting. It might look better in-hand, if they're just shallow luster grazes. If so, outside shot at MS64. That said, there are a bunch of slider AU58s that look like this. Impossible to be sure without seeing it in-hand.



    Yup. Pretty nice strike. There are a few better, but not very many.



    If you do a cert lookup on 50269313 you'll see a TrueView of what I think has the nicest overall strike I've seen. Cherub cheek and outstanding lettering. There is just a hint of softness at the top of the eagle's leg. Not my coin. If anyone can find it for me I'd be a buyer. image
  • FlatwoodsFlatwoods Posts: 4,246 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I will agree with 63.

    I think you are right on the better than average strike as well.

    Nice coin.
  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 14,010 ✭✭✭✭✭
    MS62
    When in doubt, don't.
  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,275 ✭✭✭
    The reverse is fully struck and the obverse is quite good for a 1921; however, the abrasion on the cheek forces me to go MS61.

    "It's far easier to fight for principles, than to live up to them." Adlai Stevenson
  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,227 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I can't guess, because I think I'm the forum member you got it from.
    theknowitalltroll;
  • VanHalenVanHalen Posts: 4,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This one will really depend on the luster and I can't get a good read on it from here. Could be a 62 with sub-par luster. Could be a 64 with very good luster so my guess would be MS63 based on the images.
  • jcpingjcping Posts: 2,649 ✭✭✭
    MS62
    an SLQ and Ike dollars lover
  • StuartStuart Posts: 9,793 ✭✭✭✭✭
    PutTogether: I like to Evaluate 1921 Peace Dollars based on a combination of Strike, Luster and Preservation State.



    However my personal Evaluation standards focus more on Strike and Luster, as compared with the TPGS Grading standards which IMO tend to more heavily weigh Preservation State at the expense of the other two criteria.



    Strike on 1921 Peace Dollars can vary on each specific coin in different device areas of the coin such as in Miss Liberty's Central Hair, her Tiara, Motto, Legend, Date, Rays and Eagle's Breast & Tail Feathers.



    Obverse: I agree that the obverse strike is above average displaying an average strike in the central area (slight separation between the central hair curls), Motto & Legend are bold, and Tiara is average. I'd grade Obv MS-62/63



    Reverse: I prefer the strong strike (Motto, Legend, Rays and Eagle's Breast & Tail Feathers), luster and preservation state on the reverse of your coin and would grade the reverse MS-64.



    My consolidated grade for this coin would be MS-63 based on the above criteria. -- Hope this info is helpful.

    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"
  • PutTogetherPutTogether Posts: 2,141 ✭✭✭

    Yup. Pretty nice strike. There are a few better, but not very many.

    If you do a cert lookup on 50269313 you'll see a TrueView of what I think has the nicest overall strike I've seen.


    Wow. Agreed. You almost never see that front curl separated, and the rays on the reverse and the "DOLLAR" are insane. If there is a better struck coin than this one I would like to see it.

    The eagles eye and beak? The way it looks she has gauze stuffed in her cheek? Pretty incredible, thanks for posting it.

    The only coin I've ever seen even close to the level of 50269313 was one RWB posted right about the time his Peace Dollar book was coming out. (And now that I think about it, it is probably one of the images in the book)

    Originally posted by: BAJJERFAN
    I can't guess, because I think I'm the forum member you got it from.


    Yes - good memory.






  • StuartStuart Posts: 9,793 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: BryceM



    If you do a cert lookup on 50269313 you'll see a TrueView of what I think has the nicest overall strike I've seen. Cherub cheek and outstanding lettering. There is just a hint of softness at the top of the eagle's leg. Not my coin. If anyone can find it for me I'd be a buyer. image




    Courtesy Photo Post of the coin referenced above by BryceM:



    image




    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"
  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,850 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A few years ago I asked Mark Feld about the TrueView photo of the coin above. He told me it was good, but that he had seen better, strike-wise. I'm still looking. There are a few really good ones out there. The second edition of RWB's Peace dollar book shows the variation in 1921 strikes on page 181. What most people call fantastic he calls above average and with good reason. One photo shows a lightly circulated piece with a phenomenal strike.
  • HighReliefHighRelief Posts: 3,717 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Looks like a deep dish strike with some good device detail, I would give it a 63 overall.
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  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    I like it.
    If it had to have a number, I'd say 63

    It definitely has nice eye appeal
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It is a nice strike..... I would say 61/62....Cheers, RickO
  • SamByrdSamByrd Posts: 3,131 ✭✭✭✭
    one should consider it is a high relief coin when guessing grade. These look like there hard hit with even a small amount of bag marks.

    This coin MS64+

    The strike is great and well above average. The reverse is exceptional in my opinion the eagle so well defined down to the last feather. The top letters and rays all fully detailed.
  • dizzleccdizzlecc Posts: 1,123 ✭✭✭
    Nice well struck 21 peace dollar. The eagle really stands out. It looks to have good luster and some character. If I had to guess from images I would say 64 with an outside chance at 63 on a bad day pending the eye appeal of the light toning. It is an obvious keeper (10+ years of ownership)
  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,850 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Care to share the grade?
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: PutTogether

    EVERYONE believes their 1921 has a 'better than average' strike.




    Not me! Here's one with an average to below average strike.



    imageimage



    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

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