When I am wrong, I admit it. The new Peace Dollar is beautiful! After being critical of it, I capitulated, and bought an uncertified US Mint original packing 2023 Philadelphia version. While I still see it more as a commemorative or anniversary issue, as opposed to a continuation of the original series, it is a mighty good looking coin. Mine just arrived, and I must admit, it is beautiful. I am far less enthusiastic about the 21st Century Morgans, as they look odd to me, and do not capture the look of the original series. The Peace Dollar was a very nice issue, I must say.
Nothing wrong with that...glad you like it. I have not seen a Peace in hand but I think the issue with the Morgan is that it was a copy of a copy. As I understand it, the design was based on the 1921 Morgan which was a copy of the 1878-1904 design because none of the hubs remained. So, they had to re-engrave it and thus the details on the 1921 are slightly different (and uglier in my opinion) than the original run. Fast forward 100 years and the same problem arose...so they copied it again but used the 1921 as an example. So, it's a copy of a copy.
Richie, you are correct. The Morgan is a double copy. The Peace Dollar there have been enough around to do a single generation copy, and they used the 1935 as the model, so the Peace Dollar is much closer to the original than the Morgan. It came out better, as I feel the engraving was just a superior job.
I still wish they'd modeled it after the 1921, but I guess I can understand why they wouldn't. I'm waiting with interest for the proofs. (Interest, but not much optimism -- I do not like the laser-pebbled frosting that the Mint has embraced, and I have no use whatsoever for doubly-distorted "reverse proofs", except maybe as a flipping opportunity.)
Well...by not doing so they have the option of doing a special high relief version in the future. LOL.
I bought 3 raw myself. Two of the coins look to be 70's to me and one is clearly a 69 due to very faint hairline scratch seen at very specific angles. The quality on my 3 are better than the 2021 copies I bought, which all came back graded MS69. I actually plan on submitting the coins to CAC grading just to see how that goes. I want to get that new slab in hand to see how it looks and feels.
I think that was the intent, since the 1921 Peace Dollar was such a unique looking coin, given its high relief profile.
The dear in the headlights look of a blond in the face and eyes, with that flaming Red headed hair though? Those two things don't go together...wonder how many people critiqued the coin before the final sign off.
