Some day, in the bargain bin,

morganbarber

I am going to rip one of these.
Or, at least, that is my dream.

poorguy

Could it be an MS???

Myqqy

I wonder who the wanker was that put that into circulation in the first place?

Shamika

Is there some give-away to it being a proof? Sure seems to me that it would be pert near impossible to differentiate it from a business strike after all that wear.

tjkillian

<< <i>Is there some give-away to it being a proof? Sure seems to me that it would be pert near impossible to differentiate it from a business strike after all that wear. >>



As I understand it, all 1922 proofs were high relief, and that is the tell-tale sign of a proof.

Tom

Shamika

But isn't "high relief" on a circulated coin somewhat of an oxymoron?

Coinhusker1

That coin looks way cool, though -- just like a 1921!!

morganbarber

Shamika, look at the ray through the N in one. It is way high on a high relief.

MAD4MORGANS

Conder101 gave an easier clue to look for to distinguish a 1922 high relief froom a normal relief Peace Dollar.

Notice the length of the ray. The high relief has a short ray length and a normal relief has a longer ray legnth.

poorguy

<< <i>

<< <i>Is there some give-away to it being a proof? Sure seems to me that it would be pert near impossible to differentiate it from a business strike after all that wear. >>



As I understand it, all 1922 proofs were high relief, and that is the tell-tale sign of a proof.

Tom >>



Oh yeah?

poorguy

Could it be MS? Here's some info I found in the Heritage Archives.

Research done by R. W. Julian in June 1974 at the General Services Administration archives in Philadelphia revealed that the Mint produced 35,401 High Relief Peace Dollars between January 2-23, 1922. These coins, all of which were dated 1922, were produced from four obverse and nine reverse dies. Since the die breakage was too great, the Mint halted production and ordered Chief Engraver George T. Morgan to lower the design's relief. Tradition holds that the Mint destroyed all 35,401 business strikes before commencing low relief production. Writing in 1993, however, Bowers describes the present circulated example and states: "This may be a circulation strike that escaped the melting pot (or it may be a proof that was spent)."
Judging by the way they graded this coin, PCGS believes in the latter theory. We admit that the amount of wear is extensive enough to preclude a definitive study of the original surface texture. There is, however, no doubt that this coin was struck in high relief, and with a considerable amount of pressure to provide for the considerable remaining central definition. Both sides are extensively worn with rich lavender-charcoal toning and scattered marks from a stint in circulation. An intriguing coin that begs for further study.

Edited to say that this write up is about the very coin the first post linked to.

jdsinva

Here's the Coin World photo. . .