1926 Peace dollars – weak motto vs strong motto

RWB

Many 1926-P Peace dollars have the motto In God We Trust with the word “God” in sharper letters than the balance of the motto.

Does anyone have a 1926-P with all of the motto in weak letters, or all in strong letters?

How about 1926-D, S ?

(Compare also to 1922-1925 where the entire motto appears to become progressively weaker. I have a couple of 1925-P where the word “God” is very weak.)

messydesk

<< <i>Many 1926-P Peace dollars have the motto In God We Trust with the word “God” in sharper letters than the balance of the motto.

Does anyone have a 1926-P with all of the motto in weak letters, or all in strong letters?

How about 1926-D, S ?

(Compare also to 1922-1925 where the entire motto appears to become progressively weaker. I have a couple of 1925-P where the word “God” is very weak.) >>


All 1926 Peace dollars from all mints have the word "God" in strong letters. One of the theories I've heard about this is that the word God was deliberately strengthened in the 1926 master die as a mint employee's response to the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial.

RWB

As an aside, here's a short articel about the Scopes trial:

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/evolut.htm

ProofArtworkonCircs

I have a 1926 D dollar with a weak IN GOD WE TRUST.
My earlier Peace dollars show a stronger IN GOD WE TRUST although I would say D and W were a tad stronger than the other letters in the motto. So it is with my 1926 D. I looked at some 1926 Philly's on eBay but saw no weak GOD in IGWT although GOD did not appear that much stronger on some of them. I have learned I can't really interpret pictures. Here is a 1926 S that looks weak to me. It was the first entry that came up on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1926-S-BU-Peace-Dollar-from-Estate-L-K_W0QQitemZ110203549577QQihZ001QQcategoryZ11980QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I once googled myself on the computer and was quite puzzled to come up with entries for "Herbert Hicks and his brother Sue". They were on the prosecuting team for the Scopes trial. Sue was named for his mother who died shortly after his birth. Actually his father left the first name blank in the family bible so Sue could fill in a proper name later. Sue said he couldn't break his father's heart and let things be. Evidently he wore the name proudly. He could have called himself S. Kerr Hicks but used Sue K. Hicks. Evidently his name but not his life was the inspiration for the song "A Boy Named Sue."

RWB

Interesting. Would other collectors check their 1926 Peace dollars and post what they observe about the motto?

Stuart

Here ia a file photo of a 1926 Peace Dollar that I took a while back. Interestingly enough the word GOD does appear to be more boldly struck, and I did not take this photo with demostrating this in mind.

1926 PCGS-64 Peace Dollar

RWB

These were first identified in 1999 by numismatist David Lange (author of numerous columns and books), and were described in an article in Numismatic News.

RWB

Anyone discover more in the past year?