194
|
Dollars
N
EWLY
D
ISCOVERED
1922 P
EACE
D
OLLAR
T
HE
F
INEST
K
NOWN
CAC A
PPROVED
1922
.
PCGS graded Proof 67 PQ.
CAC Approved
.
Matte Finish High Relief
. Boldly struck and almost perfect. Tied for the finest known
at either grading service. Only 8 examples are estimated to have survived.
Pop 1; none finer at PCGS
. Accompanied by the original enve-
lope that Raymond Baker stored the coins in.
A highly glossy Superb Gem that has moonbeam white patina whose brilliance seems to stretch to the horizon and beyond, plus a razor sharp
impression. From the luster, we next focus on the details of the design. Given the proper amount of strike pressure from the Proof High Relief
dies, the coin was fully brought up in all areas. This is a fascinating and incredibly beautiful example whose details surpass any we have
offered for sale before. It has no bothersome abrasions nor points of weakness.
A beautiful example of Anthony De Francisci’s new design, and one of only two dates available in high relief. George T. Morgan, Mint Engraver
at the time and whose own design had been replaced by De Francisci’s, lowered the relief of the electroplate model by hammering it with a
flat board! The subsequent lower relief was used for the remaining issues of Peace Dollars, 1922 to 1935. Morgan elected to further cut down
the relief by lessening the striking pressure on the coin presses, ostensibly to reduce die wear. In a similar fashion to the enchanting 1907
High Relief Double Eagles, De Francisci’s beautiful 1921 and this exceedingly rare 1922 High Relief, were thus greatly modified to adapt the
design to normal coin production.
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