1922 Matte Proof Peace $ by Heritage

[EZ_E]

If every registered NGC board member sends me $15 then I can buy this. Gee, thanks guys!

 

 

 

Matte Proof 1922 Peace Dollar

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The new Peace dollars of 1921 were a design success but a production failure. Dies shattered when the coins were struck at 150 tons of pressure. When George Morgan reduced the striking pressure to 120 tons, the results were predictable: softer strikes. The 1921 dollars were all struck toward the end of the year and the entire mintage was struck in high relief, but it was understood something had to change in 1922 in order to attain higher production figures.

 

In a recent article in Coin World (March 2, 2009) Roger Burdette delved into the development of the 1921 dollars and the evolution of the design into what we generally recognize as the low relief design that began in 1922. What is not generally known is the reduction to low relief was achieved in several stages, and specimen strikings were made as the design was lowered.

 

The first stage involved Morgan altering the obverse design, but leaving the 1921 reverse intact. That was an unsuccessful combination, as die life and striking definition were no better than in 1921. The next step was to alter the reverse die. The story continues until low relief was achieved and the coin went into mass production. Burdette notes that George Morgan "made a plaster copy [of one of the bronze casts], then began carefully shaving the lettering, Liberty's coronet and the portrait." On the reworked reverse Burdette notes that "The original 1921 reverse has lettering that is flat on the upper surfaces while the 1922 edition has more rounded lettering." There is also a diagnostic diagonal die defect between the olive branch and eagle's right talon that is absent on the 1921 strikings.

 

The 1922 Matte proof in our upcoming April-May Central States Auction, to be held April 28-May 3 in Cincinnati, is an example of the altered obverse and reverse die before the relief was radically lowered. This coin, along with the 1921 Satin Proof in the same auction, gives numismatists the rare opportunity to examine the differences between the two dies.

 

These subtle tweaks were insufficient to significantly reduce the relief from the original 1921 design; more radical alterations would have to be made for high-speed production. In short, the matte proof 1922 dollars represent a production failure. But those pieces also represent a "what if?" scenario. What if Morgan's tweaks had worked? The visual presentation of the Peace dollar series through 1935 would undoubtedly have propelled these coins to among the most attractive and popular series if they had been struck in the high relief seen here.

 

The surfaces of this 1922 Matte Proof, graded PR66 by NGC, have a steel-gray appearance with a slight overlay of golden color. Striking definition in the centers is absolute: There is no sign of softness on Liberty's hair curls or on the eagle's wing feathers. Probably no more than a dozen matte proofs were struck of the 1922 Peace dollar, with eight to 10 pieces believed known today. It is difficult to overstate the opportunity this piece represents for the dollar collector or the collector of major rarities. [/font]

[RWB]

...almost the same as the one they sent me for quoting the article.

Nice to see that folks read the articles!

[MunkyMan95]

It's not even that attractive. For that money, I'd take a MS67 or MS68 and buy a nice car.

[RareSov]

Nice, I love matte proof sovs I bet it looks good in hand

[James_OldeTowne]

My question has always been: are these proofs? or patterns?

[MarkFeld]

My question has always been: are these proofs? or patterns?

They're Proofs, not patterns.

[RWB]

The 1922 HR pieces with 1922 reverse (as above) are best described as patterns. They were samples of proposed coinage designs that were not adopted. In the case of the above design, no trial strikes are known - only a small number of medal press proofs made of official review.

 

The recent Coin World article walks through all of the versions from 1921 to 1922 low relief.

 

“Proof,” of course, is a method of manufacture.

 

[EZ_E]

It all boils down to semantics. Proofs in the sense of high school photos allowed the potential customer to view the proof and decide if it was a keeper or not. Same situation for the '22 but is was decided that it was not a keeper. So, in the words of Forrest Gump, maybe it is a little of both.

[RWB]

The discussion has nothing to do with photographic “proofs.”

 

Sorry, but it is not mere "semantics" - it is the correct use of standard numismatic terminology. If you check all the numismatic glossaries you will see what is meant.

 

Following your implication any distinction between the terms “obverse” and “reverse” is of no importance. A “first strike” is not the first coin struck, but rather any number of coins shipped during some arbitrary time period.