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1921 Morgans in auction called "zerbe"

logger7logger7 Posts: 9,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
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?


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  • UnknownUnknown
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    yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 5,328 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not even close.


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

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    MFeldMFeld Posts: 17,265 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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.

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    RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭

    "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"?

  • UnknownUnknown
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    RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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.

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    yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 5,328 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 7, 2025 6:05PM

    @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.

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    CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 34,220 ✭✭✭✭✭

    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.
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    dipset512dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭

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

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    BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 11,862 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Maybe they meant Anthony Zerbe the actor 😀

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
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    pcgsregistrycollectorpcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭

    OFC not

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

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    logger7logger7 Posts: 9,936 ✭✭✭✭✭




    These notes were with the coins.

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    RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:
    That seems highly dubious

    @MFeld said:

    @yosclimber said:
    Not even close.

    @logger7 said:

    These notes were with the coins.

    :#

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    RobertScotLoverRobertScotLover Posts: 1,069 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Zerbe dies means nada imo

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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 8, 2025 7:10PM

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

    Investor
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    Coins3675Coins3675 Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭✭

    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

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    UpGrayeddUpGrayedd Posts: 825 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @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

  • UnknownUnknown
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    qrtqrt Posts: 472 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 23, 2026 12:19PM

    the

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