Q. David Bowers
Business Strikes:
Enabling legislation: Certain earlier acts plus the 1918 Pittman Act
Designer: George T. Morgan
Weight and composition: 412.5 grains; .900 silver, .100 copper
Melt-down (silver value) in year minted: $0.48801
Dies prepared: Obverse: At least 30; Reverse: At least 30. The true number is probably over 100 die pairs.
Business strike mintage: 20,345,000
Estimated quantity melted: Many millions under the Silver Act of 1942 and later melts.
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 10,000 to 20,000 (URS-15)
Approximate population MS-64: 50,000 to 100,000 (URS-17)
Approximate population MS-63: 200,000 to 400,000 (URS-19)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 750,000 to 1,500,000 (URS-21)
Approximate population G-4 to AU-58: 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 (URS-22)
Availability of prooflike coins: Prooflike coins are scarce, but because they are usually unattractive there has been very little demand for them. So-called DMPL coins are scarcer yet.
Characteristics of striking: Better struck than Philadelphia or San Francisco dollars of this date, but usually lightly struck, with graininess on the cheek of Miss Liberty.
Known hoards of Mint State coins: More or less continuously distributed by the Treasury during the 1950s and early 1960s.
Proofs:
None
Commentary
Only Denver Mint Morgan dollar; very tiny mintmark.
Denver and San Francisco Begin Coinage The Numismatist, June 1921, printed this article:
"Other Mints to Coin Silver Dollars: The coinage of silver dollars during February and March was done exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint. During April the Denver Mint began striking the large silver discs, and it is stated that the San Francisco Mint is about ready also to begin work on the coinage of that denomination, according to a press dispatch from Denver published in the Colorado Springs Gazette on April 20, as follows:
" 'The first American silver dollars ever manufactured in Denver will be coined at the local mint beginning next Thursday, it was announced today, following the receipt of more than one million ounces of silver. The silver has been received in small amounts over a period of 30 days from western mining camps. Silver dollars were last stamped by the Philadelphia Mint in 1904, until the resumption of their mintage in that city last month, officials said.
" 'The manufacture of Denver's first silver dollars will continue several months, and the work will be handled by a double shift of employees, working day and night. Mint employees have been busy for two weeks installing new machinery in preparation for the manufacture of dollars. Special dies are being made under supervision of experts from Washington.
" 'The new dollars are to be made under a provision of the Pittman Act to replace silver dollars melted during the war and shipped in bars to India. All mints in the country will make silver dollars until 208 million have been made.
" 'The San Francisco Mint will begin making dollars within 30 days, it was said. Hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of silver has been hauled through Denver's streets in unpretentious wagons during the last few days, unknown to the thousands of people by whom it passed.' "
The First 1921-D Dollars (Davis)
In COINage magazine, July 1974, Norman M. Davis's article, "The Mysterious Missing Silver Dollars," appeared, and told of the first 100 1921-D Morgan dollars struck. The article is reprinted here (with permission from the publisher):
"This story remained hidden from the numismatic fraternity for over 50 years, for the Engraving Depts' draft was omitted from the final version of the Director's 1921 Annual Report.
"On April 25, [Thomas] Annear! wired to Mint Director Baker, 'Please have forwarded thirty pairs silver dollar dies.' This must have been done almost immediately, for on Thursday, April 28, Annear sent this message to Baker:
" 'Expect to start presses on silver dollars Monday. Have not yet received tubes for weighing machines from Philadelphia." Expected here tomorrow. '
"This gives us a starting date for our numismatic detection: Monday, May 2, is the earliest possible date for minting of Denver's first dollars. Baker sent a telegram on May 3, asking Annear for some of the early coins. Annear's letter of the next day is one of our most important bits of evidence in the mystery: 'I am sending you two of the first silver dollars made at this institution as per the request in your telegram of the 3rd instant.'
"On May 12, Baker would respond, 'I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 4th enclosing two of the first silver dollars made at the Denver Mint. I am enclosing herewith $2.00 in payment for the same, and assure you of my appreciation of your forwarding them to me.' (Emphasis added)
"Since the coins were sent with the letter, we now also have the latest possible date for the minting of Denver's first silver dollars. Now, was the day Monday, May 2; Tuesday, May 3; or Wednesday, May 4? I found three lines of reasoning usable, and all three indicate the same day.
"First, Annear's May 5 telegram to Baker: 'Fifty thousand dollars will be delivered tomorrow, first delivery.'
"Annear could have no reason to specify which mail delivery was bringing coins. He must have been stating that this was the first delivery of Denver dollars. If the mint could turn out 100,000 pieces per day, 50,000 represent the work of less than one normal day. It's logical to expect a relatively small first-day total due to needs for last-minute adjustments to machinery and procedures. Also, it would take part of another day to bag the coins and prepare to ship them.