Anyone familiar with Proof Peace Dollars?
northcoin
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Does anyone collect proof Peace Dollars or were too few made for enough years to make them a collectible series? Are they in demand for type sets and if so what type of type set, "Proof dollars?" Can they be located at prices comparable to proof Morgans? Lastly, is there a dealer who specializes in the sale of proof Peace Dollars?
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and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
I found a AU 1921 Peace that I think has the diagnostics for being proof. It has the die polish lines, ect that Breen describes for it to be a proof and it has a great strike. Now could it be a proof, I doubt it. But it does match several I've seen at auction. I haven't seen any others that have the same characteristics.
Either I have an impaired proof, or I have an early die business strike that came from the same dies as the proofs. From what I understand, 20 or so coins struck first from those dies are considered proof while the later coins are just business strikes.
Either way, I'll send it off to ANACS for grading and see what they say. It's a nice fantasy though to think I got a proof for $100.
Michael
Obscurum per obscurius
Yes, I also collect white tigers, dodo eggs, and books about Jewish athletes.
2 Cam-Slams!
1 Russ POTD!
1) We sold three different 1922 Matte Proof peace dollars for a client a few years ago (edited to add: Don't let that fool you - despite varying estimates as to the number of known examples, I would estimate it at fewer than 30). I have also seen a number of the others, and, none of them could accurately be described as lustrous.
They have a sand-blast finish and are typically somewhat dull and grainy looking, with steely grey surfaces. The detail in their strikes is truly special, however. Once you have seen one in person, you will/should not mistake it for a business strike.
The Satin Finish Proofs display more vibrancy and flash, but, even they, do not possess prooflike surfaces.
It is a near certainty that more than 10 Proof 1922 peace Dollars were minted, despite what the PCGS Population Report shows.
Proof 1922 peace Dollars were struck in both High Relief and Low Relief. In addition to the five High Relief's appearing on the PCGS report, the NGC Census shows 12 High Relief's and four Low Relief's, with two of the latter being of the Satin finish, as opposed to the Matte finish variety. There are probably some resubmissions involved, but, based on the number I have seen over the years, I would bet that there are more than 10 in all.
2) Here is a bit of information regarding proof peace dollars:
1921's and 1922's were each struck in both Matte and Satin finishes.
The Matte proofs are easy to distinguish (once you have seen one, at least), due to their strike, color and surface texture. They are typically a somewhat grainy, dull and rather unattractive silver/grey color but are much more sharply struck than business strikes. It is a pleasure to view a fully struck, Matte proof peace Dollar, that shows the design in all of its detail. We sold three Matte proof high relief 1922's for a client 2 or 3 years ago - two were NGC PF65's and one was an NGC PR66.
NGC has attributed (3) Matte Proof 1921's and (14) 1922's, with two of those being low relief's, as opposed to high relief's. I would bet that a number of those 1922's represent resubmissions, as there are, most likely, fewer than 20 extant. PCGS has not recognized any proof 1921 peace dollars of either the Matte or Satin variety.
Edited to add - PCGS has recognized (10) Matte Proof 1922's.
The Satin proofs are much tougher to distinguish and quite controversial. I have seen a number of experts disagree over and argue about attributions of Satin proof peace dollars.
Walter Breen describes the 1921 Satin Proofs as having "scattered die file marks" on the obverse "up and down, crossing each other in upper left fields and through and around upper parts of letters in LIBERTY, these mostly parallel to horizontal elements of letters; others in approximately concentric arcs of circles. Triangular pellet stop after (S)T in unusually high relief, even more than the other stops. Rev. Rays in high relief; similar die lines."
He also describes the 1922 low relief Satin proofs as having finishes similar to the 1921's, with built up rims and noticeably superior strike in many design areas.
The legitimate Satin proofs that I seen displayed a somewhat vibrant, semi-prooflike appearance, compared to business strikes, along with impressive strikes. But, they are not nearly as obvious as are the Matte proofs and, as mentioned previously, some are quite controversial.
NGC has certified (12) Satin proof 1921's and (2) Satin proof 1922's. Again, some of those are probably resubmissions.
You can view images of some Proof peace Dollars in the Heritage auction archives. The PR66 1922 they sold is the one we handled, though we were neither the consignor nor the buyer!
Edited to add: I believe we sold our two PR65 examples in the upper $30,000 to low $40,000 price range.
Thanks
This has to be the record for time between questioned answered and thanks for the question answered. Doesn't coinguy1 go by a different handle now, MF something I think.
Some pics so this thread is a little more useful. First coin is a Satin 65, the second a Satin 62.
Coin Photographer.
anyone know of good pics of the reeding of the various peace proofs? Rogers books photos are very blurry (on the Kindle version, anyway).
Surprised that 62 made it out of the mint how flat its hair and date are for a proof.
Coin Photographer and Videographer
Those pics are in the post above yours.
Coin Photographer.
We now have 2023 and 2024 proof peace dollars!
Some pictures here and following.
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1921-1-peace-satin-finish/7382