Original 1921 Peace Dollar Reverse Bronze Cast with Broken Sword Design

That appears to be a "Holy Cow!" piece that was essentially given away.

If authentic, it's enormously important and should be worth many multiples of that price. Look at that feather detail!

Great Googley Moogley!

Wonder who made him the offer that he just couldn't refuse.

Dan Carr 1920 High Relief with Sword Peace Dollar anyone?

By "magnetic" I assume that means that it will attract attention, not magnets ?

I've seen a photo on the internet of the plaster sculpt of this. When was that photo taken and what was the source ?
Is that plaster still in existence, or when was the last time it saw the light of day ?

@CA5MAN said:
My research indicates Anthony de Francisci designed the original molds, plaster and bronze and delivered them to Washington DC?

That seems more likely to me. Do you have any additional information on your research ?
I would think that de Francisci would have had bronzes made. Although possible, it seems unlikely that Fraser would have made de Francisci's iron/bronze casts.

I am not aware of any modern galvanos that were cast iron. Cast iron was used at one time, but cast bronze and electrolytic bronze yields better replication of detail.

Really like the High Relief Eagle! Dan, put me first on the list for one in silver/gold.

Wow...if authentic would be a museum piece. Incredible.

@AUandAG said:
Why would this be holed?

Detail is fantastic for sure.

The question is not why would this piece be holed, but rather why would this piece be?

Very cool!

There's a fascinating story there somewhere.

@illini420 said:
Looks like y'all need to search eBay a bit more frequently

Is that a wink-wink?

@RogerB said:
Read the book....You will learn the details from the source.

So we have to buy your book to find out a few bits of info? Can't you just answer a few questions without trying to push your book? I agree it's probably a good read and might get it but come on. Can't you just answer a few questions pertaining to this?

.

The intent behind the broken sword was to symbolize end of conflict.

But a NY newspaper responded to a Treasury Dept announcement of the coin and its features by asserting that, to the military, a broken sword is a symbol of defeat. When one surrenders the victor breaks the sword and returns it to the defeated.

The public widely reacted to the news article and a change to the lone hub was quickly made.
Lance.

@CA5MAN said:
Ultimately Delivered to Phil Mint Here's an excerpt:

In February, 1921, James Earle
Fraser, sculptor-member of the Commission of Fine Arts, met with Raymond T.
Baker, Director of the Mint, to discuss a peace commemorative.
Apparently nothing more was done until Fraser spoke with Baker some time
around November 5, 1921. During the conversation, Fraser determined that the
director now approved of a design competition and wanted the commission to han-
dle things. The legends on the coin would be as follows: United States of America,
E Pluribus Unum, In God We Trust, date, Liberty, one dollar, and peace were
required by the federal bill.
Whatever the administration’s political motivation, the commission left no doubt
about the aggressive schedule for its design competition. Fraser notified partici-
pants by official invitations and specifications, in a communication dated November
23.1921. The designer /artists had little time to prepare suitable designs; sketch
models were due by December 12, 1921. Eight New York area artists were invited
to participate: Robert Aitkin, Chester Beach, Victor D. Brenner, Anthony de
Francisci, John Flanagan, Henry Hering, Herman A. MacNeil, and Adolph A.
Weinman. De Francisci was picked.
Design of the Peace Dollar
Sculptor Anthony de Francisci (deh Fran-chee-shee)
produced the design for the “Peace Dollar.” Teresa,
his 22 year-old wife, served as his model. He
devised a classical theme for the obverse: Liberty,
facing left, wearing a needle-like radiant tiara. The
reverse has an eagle (symbolic of the United States),
standing on a mountain top ledge, viewing a rising
sun (symbolic of viewing a new dawn of peace, a
new day), clutching an olive branch (symbolic of
peace) in its talons. At the base of the ledge is the
word PEACE.
De Francisci worked on the final models through Saturday and completed them on
Sunday, December 18, 1921. On Sunday Anthony and Teresa de Francisci took the
late sleeper train to Washington, D.C., arriving Monday morning, December 19.
The plaster models and bronze casts arrived at the Philadelphia Mint on December
21.

That seems to match my understanding of what transpired.

So what was that about iron casts made by Fraser in New York ?
I don't think that actually happened. Or maybe that was a different time and a different coin ?

@dcarr said:

@wooglout said:
Dan Carr 1920 High Relief with Sword Peace Dollar anyone?

This, and/or something similar, is probable.

That indeed would be a wonderful idea!

@RogerB said:
RE: "So we have to buy your book to find out a few bits of info? Can't you just answer a few questions without trying to push your book? I agree it's probably a good read and might get it but come on. Can't you just answer a few questions pertaining to this?"

No; and no one is "pushing" a book.
Not because of money. The subject and events are more nuanced than can be presented in this type of forum. If individuals care to understand the historical events, then they should also be willing to expend a minute amount of effort to learn what occurred. Nothing has to be purchased - ANA loans book for free; your local library can get a copy for you to read; a couple of coin shops appear to have copies "on the counter" for patrons to browse.

Those "bits of info" that some attempt to trivialize, took months - sometimes years - to locate, verify, organize, analyze and publish.

I realize that, but can you let us know on what page number(s) the relevant documentation concerning Fraser New York Peace Dollar iron casts can be found ?

What a beautiful piece!
I never knew about the broken sword design before. Cool idea too, but as explained above, not proper for the Eagle victor to have one. Are other reverse casts known to exist? Is this bronze one unique? $500! on eBay?
What a beautiful Peace!

As I've studied the story of Peace dollar from concept to finished minted coins, the phenomenal speed at which things happened amazes me. The sad thing is that we have now become accustomed to a slothful bureaucracy.