1921 Morgans in auction called "zerbe"

Options
logger7
logger7 Posts: 9,868 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited October 7, 2025 4:14PM in U.S. Coin Forum

I asked the auction to send me photographic images on these two 1921 Morgans, but these are scans. Not zerbes right?


Comments

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,060 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    That seems highly dubious

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • yosclimber
    yosclimber Posts: 5,322 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Not even close.


    from
    https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1921-1-zerbe-special-strike/7341

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @yosclimber said:
    Not even close.


    from
    https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1921-1-zerbe-special-strike/7341

    ANACS has designated some examples as having been struck from “Zerbe Dies”.

    Here’s one example:
    https://coins.ha.com/itm/morgan-dollars/1921-1-ms62-prooflike-anacs-zerbe-dies-ngc-census-129-617-pcgs-population-58-226-numismedia-wsl-price-for-probl/a/1204-10674.s?ic16=ViewItem-Auction-Archive-PreviousPricesHeritage-081514

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,944 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    "Not even close."

    Are you sure of that? I don't believe that Morgan is of a Zerbe die yet what do you mean, "not even close"?

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,060 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @sanddollar said:
    "Not even close."

    Are you sure of that? I don't believe that Morgan is of a Zerbe die yet what do you mean, "not even close"?

    It does not show the proper surface finish fit an actual Zerbe

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,944 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @sanddollar said:
    "Not even close."

    Are you sure of that? I don't believe that Morgan is of a Zerbe die yet what do you mean, "not even close"?

    It does not show the proper surface finish fit an actual Zerbe

    I agree, but it is close, no?
    The coin type: Silver dollar: check.
    The make and model: Morgan: check.
    The date: 1921: check.
    The mint: P: check.
    Seems a little close.
    A, "not even close" would be a Kennedy half dollar.

  • yosclimber
    yosclimber Posts: 5,322 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 7, 2025 6:05PM
    Options

    @sanddollar said:
    "Not even close."

    Are you sure of that? I don't believe that Morgan is of a Zerbe die yet what do you mean, "not even close"?

    From the PCGS CoinFacts page:

    The 1921 Zerbe Special Strike Morgan Dollars were struck on special polished dies but on normal circulation type planchets. Zerbe Special Strikes show many hairlines on the devices of the coins compared to circulation strike coins. Additionally, the Zerbe Special Strikes are not on par with the earlier Proof Morgan Dollars of the era but yet, they are better struck that circulation strike coins. There were also no Proof Morgan Dollars struck in 1921. Approximately 150 – 200 Zerbe Special Strike Morgan Dollars are believed to exist.

    The reason I said "Not even close" was because the fields in the photos you shared are not proof like,
    and the central hair detail and eagle chest detail are lacking.
    A VAM expert might be able to look for the "many hairlines on the devices" and make a judgement on that basis.

    For a coin to be "close" to a specific attribution (like "Zerbe dies"), it needs to be more similar to known coins from that attribution than to generic coins of the hub type / date / mint mark. The photos you shared look like regular 1921 Morgan dollars, and do not have any similarities to known Zerbe die coins, as far as I can see.

  • CaptHenway
    CaptHenway Posts: 34,175 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I suspect that Back when I was working in the coin shop these two coins would have gone loose into our second best junk box.

    Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • dipset512
    dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭
    Options

    One of the easier diagnostics is the line above the second U on UNUM.

  • BLUEJAYWAY
    BLUEJAYWAY Posts: 11,798 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Maybe they meant Anthony Zerbe the actor 😀

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    OFC not

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • logger7
    logger7 Posts: 9,868 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options




    These notes were with the coins.

  • RedRocket
    RedRocket Posts: 1,944 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @jmlanzaf said:
    That seems highly dubious

    @MFeld said:

    @yosclimber said:
    Not even close.

    @logger7 said:

    These notes were with the coins.

    :#

  • RobertScotLover
    RobertScotLover Posts: 1,069 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Zerbe dies means nada imo

  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 8, 2025 7:10PM
    Options

    Nice looking coins (op). If they selling them around melt - good investment buy?

    Investor
  • Coins3675
    Coins3675 Posts: 1,140 ✭✭✭✭
    Options

    That isn't even close! I would buy them for $30 apiece.

    Successful Transactions With: JWP, DBSTrader2, greencopper, bretsan, ajaan, Ted1, Desert Coin, olah_in_MA

  • UpGrayedd
    UpGrayedd Posts: 825 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Coins3675 said:
    That isn't even close! I would buy them for $30 apiece.

    I would buy them for $30 too, since current melt is over $38. ;)

    Philippians 4:4-7

  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,060 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @Coins3675 said:
    That isn't even close! I would buy them for $30 apiece.

    No one will sell them to you

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • qrt
    qrt Posts: 472 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 23, 2026 12:19PM
    Options

    the

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Comment As ...

Categories