The 1964 Peace Dollar and Gilroy Roberts

Comments

• RWB Posts: 8,082 ✭

  August 4, 2007 6:36AM

  I have dug through everything I can find while doing research for a book on Peace dollars (date/mint/variety/history, etc. publication sometime in the fall - maybe). So far nothing.
  
  All the dies were destroyed in August 1964 and the last coin was rolled out in 1973. The 1989 inventory of models and galvanos does not list the 1964 dollar. Most of the mint's then-current files were destroyed by director Hackel's orders in the 1970s. Remaining files are in the archives and have no photos of the coins or models. The last place that might have something is the Secret Service and I have a FOIA request in to them. Mint files at HQ turned up only a press release.
  
  RWB
  

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• JapanJohn Posts: 2,030 ✭

  August 4, 2007 7:31AM

  I've got nothing to add but I'm giving this a bump.
  
  I think the 64 Peace Dollar exists. I think there are people here who have seen them, held them, maybe even own them but obviously can't say anything publicly.
  
  What a world we live in. You can probably buy bomb making materials easier than some rare coins with less scrutiny from the government.
  
  John

  Coin Photos
  
  Never view my other linked pages. They aren't coin related.

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• LostSisler Posts: 521 ✭✭✭

  August 4, 2007 7:37AM

  
  
  << <i>All the dies were destroyed in August 1964 and the last coin was rolled out in 1973. The 1989 inventory of models and galvanos does not list the 1964 dollar.
  RWB >>
  
  
  
  Were the dies 100% Defaced? How was this done at the time? (Grinding or welding?)
  The 1989 Inventory you are referring to; is that the Mint's or Gilroy's?
  

  Because to Err is Human.
  I specialize in Errors, Minting, Counterfeit Detection & Grading.
  Computer-aided grading, counterfeit detection, recognition and imaging.

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• RWB Posts: 8,082 ✭

  August 4, 2007 7:51AM

  All of the dollar dies sent to Denver were returned to Philadelphia for destruction. The trial dies and incomplete dies at Philadelphia were also ordered destroyed by the engraving dept. The Treasury Dept clearly wanted nothing to remain of these coins or the dies and millions of blanks that had been made. The Secret Service sent agents to Denver to supervise destruction. I have affidavits, etc. but they do not specify how the dies were destroyed.
  
  The inventory is the one done by Michael Iacocca at the engraver's request.
  

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• LostSisler Posts: 521 ✭✭✭

  August 4, 2007 8:15AM

  Has anyone ever checked with The Gilroy Roberts Foundation or studied the inventory of his items at the ANA looking for anything about the Peace Dollar?
  Oddly, the inventory here is from 1989.

  Because to Err is Human.
  I specialize in Errors, Minting, Counterfeit Detection & Grading.
  Computer-aided grading, counterfeit detection, recognition and imaging.

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• RWB Posts: 8,082 ✭

  August 4, 2007 8:17AM

  I have not checked the ANA collection - it really did not occur to me that anything relating to the 1964 dollars would be there. From your initial post, I presume you haev alreayd checked and founf nothing.

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• LostSisler Posts: 521 ✭✭✭

  August 4, 2007 8:19AM

  I have been checking, the Gilroy Collection inventory is about two-inches thick.
  
  I would have to look at each and every one of our dies (that size) to try to find something (est 1,000 plus).

  Because to Err is Human.
  I specialize in Errors, Minting, Counterfeit Detection & Grading.
  Computer-aided grading, counterfeit detection, recognition and imaging.

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• RWB Posts: 8,082 ✭

  August 4, 2007 8:22AM

  Well, that is what 95% of basic research is-- page by page, item by unlisted item.... Have fun! Let me know if you find anything I can use in the Peace dollar book!

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• dcarr Posts: 10,039 ✭✭✭✭✭

  August 4, 2007 8:39AM

  
  
  << <i>Has anyone ever checked with The Gilroy Roberts Foundation or studied the inventory of his items at the ANA looking for anything about the Peace Dollar?
  Oddly, the inventory here is from 1989. >>
  
  
  
  I attended the "Art of Engraving" class at this year's ANA Summer Seminar. All six students in this class were awarded scholarships by the Gilroy Roberts foundation. During part of the class, we went to examine the Gilroy Roberts collection stored at the ANA. There were many nice plaster models and drawings. But all of them appeared to be from Robert's days at the Franklin Mint. I saw nothing there that would have been made at the US Mint. And that makes sense since the US Mint generally would not allow any coin models to leave the secure walls of their facility.
  
  And there was no mention or indication of anything to do with the 1964 Peace dollar.
  

  Moonlight Mint

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• LostSisler Posts: 521 ✭✭✭

  August 4, 2007 11:23AM

  I know that in the original exhibit of his items we did have the original plasters for the Kennedy Half. I have not had time to locate them yet, it would take two weeks to go through all of the Roberts items. My hopes are that there are more items like that.
  
  DCarr, If you remember me, I came down while your class was touring.

  Because to Err is Human.
  I specialize in Errors, Minting, Counterfeit Detection & Grading.
  Computer-aided grading, counterfeit detection, recognition and imaging.

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• RWB Posts: 8,082 ✭

  August 4, 2007 12:21PM

  By the time the FY 1965 appropriation was signed and the dollar project got underway, engraver Roberts had presented his resignation (effective Oct 8, 1964). Mint director Adams authorized assistant engraver Frank Gasparo to do the die work and it is possible he or he and Roberts prepared the models and hubs.
  
  It is clear from available documents that the old dies (from 1934, 35, 36) were not used in any way and neither were the old collars.
  

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