1921-S S$1

Description

1921-S Morgan Dollar, PCGS MS-65. This San Francisco Mint Morgan dollar represents a notable example from the final year of the classic Morgan dollar series. The coin exhibits the characteristic features of 1921 coinage, including the distinctive Micro S mintmark and the shallow relief dies employed that year. Struck from a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper, this piece retains its original weight of 26.73 grams and displays the reeded edge standard to the series. The MS-65 grade places this coin solidly within the upper tier of Mint State survivors for this date and mint. The 1921-S is notably challenging to find in high grades due to the notoriously poor striking characteristics of coins from this period—most examples exhibit weak definition at the high points and surface abrasion. Fully struck, lustrous coins of this date are decidedly scarce, and bagmarks are common even on better examples. According to numismatic research, the estimated population of 1921-S dollars grading MS-65 or better is quite limited, numbering between 2,000 and 4,000 pieces under current grading interpretations. The 1921-S carries significant historical context within the Morgan dollar narrative. With a mintage of over 21.6 million pieces, these coins were largely released into circulation during the 1930s through 1950s from San Francisco Mint storage. An estimated 10 to 15 million examples were subsequently melted under the 1942 Silver Act. While circulated specimens remain common, Mint State examples—particularly in grades of MS-64 and above—are considerably more elusive than mintage figures would suggest. This PCGS-certified example, with certificate number 58472773, offers collectors a well-preserved representative of this challenging final-year issue.