Subject to prior sale

1921 FIC Piastre NGC AU55

1921 年 FIC 皮亚斯特 NGC AU55

Minted at the San Francisco Mint

I consider these coins as part of a complete San Francisco Morgan Dollar collection.

The Morgan Dollar is one of most widely collected coins in The United States. Even though the coin circulated, millions of examples remained in uncirculated condition. The coins were the foundation of the paper money Silver Certificates that were circulated and backed by silver coin. There are several collectors with means that attempt to collect a complete collection. There are a few lucky and dedicated collectors that have achieved the goal of a complete collection.

The French Indo China One Piastre coin (1885-1928, 1931) was produced for Trade within French Indochina and Asia. The Chinese has a Silver Standard for 2000 years and required payment in silver for their trade products. The Spanish 8 Reale coin became the mainstay of payments for world trade after it was introduced in 1598. The "Real de a Ocho" was created to compete with the Thaler coin used in the states and territories of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg Monarchy during the early modern period. The word thaler is shortened from Joachimsthaler, the original thaler coin minted in Joachimstal, Bohemia from 1518.

Every Industrialized nation desired their own Silver Trade coin as it was cheaper to make your own coins than buy from another country. The United States created the Trade Dollar (1873-1885) and the British created their Trade Dollar (1895-1935).

The French stopped minting silver Francs in 1920 and they switch to an Aluminum/Bronze coin after WWI. Than cause a mass exodus of silver Franc coins from the domestic economy. The almost instant shortage required the French to rush production of new fiat coins at the Paris mint. This task was overwhelming and required the full production from all domestic mint facilities. Production of the FIC silver piastre was contracted out to Great Britain & the United States.

In the US, the mints were busy. The Pitman act (1918) facilitated the melting of millions of Morgan Dollars, for the sale of silver to England. The English needed the silver to mint the Silver Rupee to support the Indian Economy. This caused an issue, as the Treasury now did not have enough silver dollar coins, required to back the paper Silver Certificates that were in circulation. Plans to restart the production of silver US dollar coins became an immediate concern. The US mint restarted minting Morgan silver dollars in 1921 at all three facilities while plans for the Peace Dollar were imitated with extreme haste.

The San Francisco Mint began producing Silver Morgan Dollars and minted 21,695,000 coins in 1921. No silver Dimes or Quarters were produced in San Francisco in 1921 and only 548,000 Half Dollars were produced that year. Besides the Morgan dollar production the San Francisco branch was tasked with producing French Indo China 1 Piastre silver coins. San Francisco minted 4,850,000 FIC piastres in 1921.

I advance the concept that the 1921 FIC piastre is a sister coin of the San Francisco Morgan silver dollar. And the 1922 FIC piaster is the sister coin to the 1922s Peace dollar. If you are an ardent collector of Morgan's or Peace dollars and in general or SF Morgan's or Peace dollars specifically, a FIC silver Piastre would be an excellent addition to your collection.

The Silver dollar is .900 silver, 26.73 grams & 38.1 X 2.4 mms. The FIC piastre is .900 silver, 27 grams & 39 X 2.7 mms. I have studied the 1921 & 1922 FIC piastres and have noticed an off center effect on most coins. That leads me to believe that the mint in San Francisco used the same silver dollar cutout die for both dollars and piaster planchets. Adjusting the weight difference by the thickness of the silver bar stock used.   

With the Peace dollars and the 1922 FIC silver Piaster things are starker. Over 17.4 million Peace dollars were minted in San Francisco in 1922. NGC has graded 8,106 1922s Peace dollars between PrAg and MS-66. Of the 1.15 million FIC Piastres minted at the US mint in San Francisco in 1922, NGC has graded 29 in detail grade. And only 31 Piastres with a number grade between VF and MS-63. Only six are graded in mint state.

There is another issue with the French Indochina issue. The coins were in French Indochina and subject to confiscation during WWII. Millions were melted to conceal their theft. Coins were hidden by being buried and many acquired environmental damage and others were recovered and cleaned. This has caused any FIC piastre in any number grade to be rare. Even detail graded coins are rare. The coin offered today is extremely rare.

Please ask all and any questions before you place a bid.

I have been doing this on eBay since 1998. Don't sell much anymore because the fees approach professional auction firms. The difference is that the buyer pays the premiums at the Professional firms. I pay all premiums to eBay.

As these items are certified by NGC, I am not accepting returns on this set.

Shipping is $9.99 for USPS Ground Advantage & Insured Delivery.

Actual shipping costs are about $15 so I am sharing the shippping cost.

Overseas shipping is by the eBay Global Shipping Program.

I reserve the right to cancel all bids and void all sales at any time before the item ships due to prior sale.

This is a private listing and that is to protect you.

Payment due in 3 days.

Thank you.