Peace Dollars are often found weakly struck. It is not uncommon to find uncirculated Peace Dollars with incomplete reverse lettering and mushiness on the obverse. The TPG's claim that strike is an important factor in determining the grade of a coin. Yet they seem to contradict themselves when grading coins from a series that were often weakly struck. Take a look at the photos below. Shown are five gem state Peace Dollars ranging from MS65-MS67 in grade. I have organized them by strike. The top coin is the most weakly struck Peace Dollar I have ever encountered. The second coin is just a little bit better struck. The third coin has an average strike and the last two are fully struck. 1924 PEACE DOLLAR IGC 1924 PEACE DOLLAR NGC 1924 PEACE DOLLAR NGC 1922-D PEACE DOLLAR NGC 1925 PEACE DOLLAR NGC If strike is really an element of grade then how can all five of these coins be within 2 points of each other. In terms of luster and eye appeal, I think that all five coins are undeniably strong. There are subtle differences in the surface preservation which accounts for the difference in grades of the five coins, but it seems that the strike of the coins has been eliminated from the process. Have the TPG's adopted a process whereby they will ignore strike as an element of grade for coins that routinely are weakly struck? Are they saying that because Peace Dollars are routinely found weakly struck that we will not penalize the grade for being weakly struck? Peace Dollars are not the only coins that are afforded this kind of strike leniency. The TPG's also do this with regards to "O" mint Morgan Dollars. However, I contend that the strike range for "O" mint Morgan Dollars is much smaller than the range for Peace Dollars. What I mean is that I have never seen a fully struck "O" mint Morgan. They are all weakly struck and some are just worse than others. But the Peace Dollars as we can see from the photos above come both poorly struck and fully struck. Therefore, I contend that they should not ignore or downplay the role of strike with regards to grade The coins are shown in order from weakest strike to strongest strike. I contend that they are also show in order from lowest grade to highest. IMO, the first coin is an MS63, coins 2-4 are MS65, and the last coin is an MS66. Can you guess the assigned grades by the TPG's? For accuracy's sake, the marks on the cheek of coin #2 are on the holder. Additionally, some of the photos are taken by me and others by Heritage. Can you guess which photos are mine? I will send an uncirculated Peace Dollar to the first person who can do both.
You guys are about 3 or 4 years too late in guessing. This thread was originally posted in 2008. Answers were already revealed in 2009.
Had to go back through the thread to find the answers. All the same, this is a good article, and I appreciate you posting it up, again. Thanks!
Nice write-up - thanks a lot. I never really liked the design but as I mellow they are growing on me. As far as leniency on the strike, it seems the same is true for the 1972 type 2 Eisenhower dollar.
I didn't realize Peace Dollars were ever so weakly struck. I'll have to go back and take a second look at mine.
