Among the “rarest of the rare” in our upcoming 2014 Chicago ANA Rarities Night sale are five Peace dollar die trials from the estate of late Mint Director Raymond T. Baker who was involved in the redesign of the 1921 High Relief Peace dollars. The five Baker pieces include one 1921 and four 1922 Peace dollars, all Proofs, and all rare. Among the four 1922-dated Peace dollars is a die trial in “modified high relief,” believed to be unique in today’s collecting community. Also known as Judd-2020, this rarity, Lot 13167 in the catalog, is certified Proof-67 by PCGS, and has a Satin Finish. Its appearance here marks the first time it has seen the light of day in numismatic circles; word of these Baker pieces has set the Peace dollar collecting community afire. The full story of these historically important Peace dollars can be found in the catalog, though we will touch upon it here. Jeff Ambio and John Pack, did a world-class write-up in the catalog that notes in part: “Almost immediately after coining of the 1921 Peace dollars commenced in the final few days of the year, George Morgan set to work on the Peace dollar hubs. His initial endeavor was to make small improvements to the 1921 high relief reverse hub and to alter the date on the obverse to 1922. As soon as the initial trials for 1922 began, likely January 5th, a sample from the slightly modified dies was collected and sent with an example of the 1921 coinage to Mint Director Baker.” All told five different die trial Peace dollars, one dated 1921, the other four dated 1922, were sent to Baker by Morgan; those five impressive coins make for a spectacular display in our ANA Rarities Night catalog. Many Peace dollar aficionados will be on their best game when these treasures cross the auction block. Perhaps one lucky bidder will be able to corral all five pieces and keep the set together for the time being. We are sure that the bidding activity will reflect the rarity and desirability of the Baker Peace dollars when they are called into the auction spotlight.
