Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) is extending the $10,000 reward offered for the 1964-D Peace Dollar to four additional coins, bringing the bounty up to $50,000.
In addition to the 1964-D $10,000 bounty, PCGS will add four separate $10,000 rewards for the 1873-S Seated Dollar, the 1894-S Barber Dime, the 1841-O $5 Half Eagle and the 1849 Templeton Reid $25.
Each coin was slated for circulation, but — due to various reasons ranging from inexplicably low mintage numbers to legislation — never reached the masses.
To qualify for the reward, PCGS only asks for the opportunity to view in-person and grade any of the coins at large. After authentication and grading, the coin or coins will be returned and the $10,000 reward tendered for each respective coin.
PCGS attached the $10,000 reward to the Peace Dollar in 2013 to coincide with its list of the “Top 100 Modern Coins,” in an attempt to re-surface the legendary coin. A similar offer extended by PCGS for the Walton specimen 1913 Liberty Head Nickel resulted in the re-discovery of the nickel after vanishing for nearly 40 years.
“We introduced the offer for the elusive 1964-D because we felt the coin and its history is vital to the numismatic community. But the ’64 Peace Dollar isn’t the only storied coin that is unaccounted for. Each of these coins share a story similar to the legendary Peace Dollar, so perhaps extending the offer to four more coins will help unearth some of these tremendous rarities,” said PCGS President Don Willis.
According to Mint records, 316,076 1964-dated silver Peace dollars were struck at the Denver Mint in 1965, before they were classified as trial strikes and melted.
As in the case with the fabled Peace Dollar, circulation was thwarted for each four mysterious coins:
1873-S Seated Dollar
Although 700 were apparently minted, none have ever surfaced. It is assumed the entire mintage was melted as a result of the Mint Act of February 12, 1873, which abolished the entire denomination in favor of the Trade Dollar. Breen reports in his Encyclopedia that one has been reported, but remains unverified.
1894-S Barber Dime
Although Mint records report that 24 were struck, only 13 have ever been accounted for, leaving 11 at large. At least one is known to have entered circulation, where it remained for a number of years.
1841-O $5
Despite Mint records reporting 8,350 coined in 1841, current findings indicate that at least 8,300 of those were dated 1840. This leaves 50 possibly dated 1841. Over the years, two have been reported but further investigation revealed that both of these were false reports — one being an 1841-C and the other a likely alteration that has since disappeared.
1849 Templeton Reid $25
Only one original was ever known, and was in the U.S. Mint Cabinet Collection until it was stolen in August 1858. It is speculated the thief melted the coin down for bullion, rather than risk transporting the renowned coin.
General consensus seems to echo one thing: most of these coins are not likely to be uncovered. Some examples of the 1964-D are believed to have survived the mass melting, while mystery and corruption surround the 1849 Templeton Reid $25. Neither the 1841-O nor 1873-S have been accounted for.
“If any of these coins is to surface, it would likely be the member of the ‘Big Three,’ the 1894-S. There are 13 known, and one was even auctioned in January of this year. As far as the other coins go, we remain hopeful,” said Willis.
For more information on the coins at large, visit www.PCGScoinfacts.com.
Founded in 1986, Professional Coin Grading Service has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris and the United States.
