Sunday, September 14, 2014

Week Nineteen

 

Coin of the Week: 1964 Peace Dollar

The Peace Dollar (1921-1935) was the silver dollar after the Morgan Dollar. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, it showed a depiction of Lady Liberty on the obverse, and an eagle on the reverse.

Silver prices were quickly rising, however, and many people feared that the silver dollar would soon become obsolete. So silver dollar production was stopped in 1935.

By 1964, president Lyndon B. Johnson felt that the economy was secure enough to start production again. 316,076 1964 Peace Dollars were struck at the Denver Mint, only to be melted down almost immediately, because of record high silver prices. No examples are known to exist today, but PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) is offering a $10,000 reward for the first genuine 1964 Peace Dollar submitted to them. Many restrikes exist.

1964 Peace Dollar

1964 Peace

1964-d-peace-dollar

1964 D Peace Dollar

1964 peace dollar replica

Mystery: Several 1970 Peace Dollars were struck to test the base metal composition that would be used for the Ike Dollar. No known specimens (or even photographs) are known to exist.

 

Trial and Error: William Barber’s Seashore Pattern

Trial: This was a test piece for the newly authorized Trade Dollar and Double Dime.

Error: The designer broke the laws of physics to create it!

Wait, what?

You heard me.

Look at the Ship!Pattern-1875-Seashore-obv

Look close at the ship. The sails are pushing the ship forward, but the steam coming from the ship is blowing backwards! In a real life situation, the smoke would be going the same direction as the ship. That’s one for the blooper reel!

 

Cool Commemoratives: Texas Centennial Half Dollar

This coin is arguably one of the most beautiful commemoratives ever. It was made to celebrate the centennial of Texas breaking away from Mexico. The obverse features an eagle sitting on a branch in front of a lone star, the symbol of Texas, while the reverse shows Lady Victory over the Alamo, with portraits of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin to her sides. The six flags that Texas has used over the years wave above her. This coin was produced from 1934 to 1938.

Texas obv

Texas rev.

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