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1921 Zerbe Special Strike
| Weight | 26.73 g |
| Diameter | 38.1 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Strike | NIFC (Not Intended for Circulation) |
| Mintage | 44,690,000 Combined mintage for all 1921 Philadelphia Morgan varieties |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 90% Silver, 10% Copper |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | George T. Morgan |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-4774 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
- A Guide Book of United States Coins (The Red Book) · Silver Dollars · Morgan, 1878-1921
- PCGS CoinFacts: Morgan Dollars
- NGC Coin Explorer: Morgan Dollars
- Heritage Auctions Archives
- Stack's Bowers Archives
The 1921 Zerbe Special Strike is a presentation-quality 1921 Philadelphia Morgan Dollar struck for prominent numismatist Farran Zerbe, former American Numismatic Association president, in a small quantity estimated at 10 to 20 pieces. The Zerbe Special Strike sits between standard business strikes and the formal 1921 Chapman Proof in surface character: enhanced strike quality and surface preservation distinguish the Zerbe from typical 1921-P production, but the issue lacks the deeply mirrored fields and frosted devices that define the Chapman Proof. The exact production circumstances remain debated in the numismatic literature.
Authentication of a Zerbe Special Strike claim requires careful examination of the strike quality and surface character under five to ten power magnification. The Zerbe Special Strike shows fuller strike detail on Liberty's hair and the eagle's central feathers than typical 1921-P business strikes, with subtly enhanced surface preservation that approaches but does not match proof quality. PCGS, the Professional Coin Grading Service, and NGC apply rigorous standards for Zerbe authentication, and pedigree documentation routinely accompanies confirmed examples. The Zerbe Special Strike is sometimes confused with high-grade prooflike business strikes; certified slabs are essential.
The 1921 Zerbe Special Strike is a trophy-tier specialty issue and one of the most-collected non-government presentation strikes in U.S. coinage. The rarity context lives in the narrative rather than the standard catalog tier. The 1921 Zerbe Special Strike pairs with the 1921 Chapman Proof as the documented 1921 reissue-year specialty productions, and the matched 1921-S Zerbe Special Strike issue is catalogued separately on this site. Pedigree documentation traces confirmed examples back to Farran Zerbe's original distribution, and certified slabs from PCGS or NGC are essential at any meaningful price level. The Zerbe Special Strikes and the 1921 Chapman Proof together define the documented specialty-strike productions of the Morgan Dollar reissue year, with each issue trading at trophy-tier prices reflecting the small surviving populations. For the broader 1921 reissue context and the Zerbe presentation history, see the Morgan Dollar series history.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | — | — |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | — | — |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | — | — |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | — | — |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | — | — |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | — | — |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — | — |
How many 1921 Zerbe Special Strike Morgan Dollars were minted?
What is a 1921 Zerbe Special Strike Morgan Dollar made of?
What is the melt value of a 1921 Zerbe Special Strike Morgan Dollar?
Is the 1921 Zerbe Special Strike Morgan Dollar a key date?
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