1921 Peace dollar I just bought at CINA Coin Show on Sunday - SHARP strike!

[James_OldeTowne]

Here's a question that I posted yesterday, asking about Proof 1921 Peace dollars.

 

I picked up a very interesting 1921 at the CINA Coin Show in Springfield (IL) yesterday. The images below were all taken from the same camera angle at the same distance, with only the position of the light being changed. These are thumbnails - CLICK for a larger image.

 

 

 

Note the amazing clarity of detail, especially on the reverse. The strike is very sharp! Now, I'm not saying that this is a proof (I can only dream), but it has a very dull, satiny luster with virtually no cartwheel effect whatsoever. In fact, it is so dull that I bought it graded (not encapsulated) as AU!

 

Even if it is not a proof, it is the best struck 1921 I've owned. I'm not too thrilled with the color, but overall, I like it. What do you guys think of it?

 

Oh, and guess what I paid!

 

James

[MikeInFL]

Nice coin. Fabulous strike. The lack of luster would normally lead me to say that the coin had been dipped some time ago and is now retoning. It doesn't look like a proof to me -- look at the weak "P" in "PEACE" on the reverse. Just my newbie opinion, however, take it for what it's worth...Mike

[supertooth]

James-----If anything, the strike on the reverse of your coin appears better to me than on the ANACS piece. It surely warrants some other opinions---which I am sure that you will ask for. Your coin does "look funny" to me on the obverse. Naturally there could be reasons for that. This coin is certainly one of those that you would like to see "in hand". It being the first year of the Peace Dollar, it seems there are a lot of strange looking 1921"s out there. I remember, as a kid, reading about 1921 Proofs. I cannot remember whether the Smithsonian collection had one or not. When I was young I spent days looking at that collection. But I was mostly looking at the gold. Good luck with your piece. Bob [supertooth]

[Morgannut]

That's a nice example and if you got it anywhere near AU-58 money that's all the better. I've actually owned one in 65 that had the hair details brought up better but it was unusal. This one's reverse is as good as it gets. Obviously not a proof without some wireline rim detail and fuller hair plus the odd bagmarks-- I've bought coins like this in color and generally they were dipped in the 1950's and sold to collectors in brown 2 X 2 envelopes. Commonly they get a wonderful golden tone with a hidden violet irridesence in places. I sent in one to PCGS and they bagged it for "questionable color". It was sort of a tough one to find AU-58 so I dipped it and it came back MS-65!!!!! Go figure...

[RobertB]

I can dig it!

[Buffalo_Pete]

Most definitly a coin I would not mind owning.

 

The strike is, as has been mentioned, exceptional on the reverse.

 

It does not have enought "Struck up" detail to qualify as a proof specimen.

 

Historically, I guess this pretty specimen shows what could have been,

if only the striking problems could have been overcome.

[James_OldeTowne]

Thanks for all the comments. It wouldn't surprise me if this coin had been dipped, and has retoned over time. I paid $150 for it (talked down the asking price of $170).

 

James

[RGT]

That is an exceptionally nice strike on the reverse and not too shabby on the obverse either.

 

I'm amazed at how much these have gone up in AU in the last few years. About five years ago I was helping my wife put together a set of AU Peace dollars and bought three AU 1921s. The first was lost in shipping, the second went into her (raw) set and the third I just bought for myself as a type coin. These all cost me in the range of $60-$70. Now I'd like to get a nice MS63-64 if I could find one I liked at the right price.

[RWB]

The first few bags of Peace dollars made on December 28 were of much higher striking quality that later coins. Morgan and the Philadelphia Mint folks were trying hard to satisfy the director and Commission of Fine Arts. Dies were retired after limited use, or when they shattered from the high striking pressure. Coins that can be traced back to the initial distribution on January 5, 1922 are uniformly of premium quality – even when in AU condition their superior strike on both sides is obvious. The two abused pieces in the Smithsonian American Art Museum are typical and show excellent detail on the side that has not been polished with sliver cleaner. (DeFrancisci used these as artist's samples and had a brass rod attached to one side of each coin.)

 

Since the Peace design did not have sharp detail in the central hair – this was intentional – determining obverse strike is tough. The very best will be closest to the sandblast proofs in detail, but even the proofs are not the best that might have been done if the mint had permitted Medallic Art or another expert in the field of coin/medal reduction to make the hubs.

[James_OldeTowne]

RWB, that is extremely helpful - THANKS!

 

POST more often!

 

James