| by James Halperin
“Why don’t Peace Dollars come with Proof Like and Deep
Mirror Proof Like fields as do Morgans?”
Good question! Here’s another: Why is it that even
uncirculated Peace Dollars often have indistinct lettering and
blurred appearing devices?
As coin enthusiasts, we sometimes forget that the Mint’s
priorities must often place quantity above quality. Based on the
striking quality of many issues, it seems obvious that Peace
Dollar dies were seldom refurbished by polishing. Most Peace
Dollars, most notably those struck in Philadelphia, have a very
frosty overall appearance, which results from heavily used dies.
To apply mirror-like reflectivity to a coin, the raised portion
of the dies must be clean and highly polished. Any imperfection on
the die will be transferred to the coin. The minting process
causes metal from the planchet to move across the surface of the
die. This friction abrades the die. As additional coins are
produced, the mirror surfaces will eventually disappear, as will
any prooflike appearance. Lint or dust on the die causes minute
depressions in the surface. Coins struck from rusted dies exhibit
raised dots in the fields or among the devices.
Striking pressure is an important factor, too. The planchets of
proof coins are struck under enhanced pressure, and each given two
or more blows from the press. I’ve never seen a proof Peace
Dollar dated after 1922, and the rare 1921 and 1922 proofs are
always matte or satin, never brilliant.
Finally, the design of a coin influences its likelihood of
acquiring prooflike tendencies. After the difficulties of striking
1921 Peace Dollars in the original high relief design, drastic
changes had to be made to lower the height of the devices on
subsequent issues.
Thus, prooflike Peace Dollars are quite scarce. Should you
encounter any, chances are that the surfaces have been altered.
Sadly, the Peace Dollar exemplifies a problem that collectors must
face - some coins just don’t come the way we’d like them.
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