By Everett Millman – Gainesville Coins …….
Rumors have long circulated in numismatic circles about the mystery of the 1964 Peace dollar, which would have been the last 90% silver dollar minted for circulation. That is, if the entire mintage hadn’t been melted down when the plan to coin new silver dollars (which hadn’t been produced in the U.S. since 1935) was abandoned.
Now, new revelations are emerging about a topic that was previously unheard of – the 1964 Morgan dollar. Could it exist?
Forthcoming Publication
The answer will come when Whitman publishes the newest (fifth) edition of Q. David Bowers’ Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars at the end of next month. The numismatic news has been abuzz with the discovery that the U.S. Mint apparently prepared dies for a 1964 Morgan silver dollar.
Previously, it was known that over 300,000 silver Peace dollars were struck with the 1964 year-date by the Denver Mint back in 1965. Legislation the previous year had authorized the striking of new silver dollars–45 million of them. However, because the plan was scrapped, the entire mintage of 1964 Peace dollars was melted down. According to the Red Book, “None were preserved or released for circulation.”
The story about the elusive 1964 Peace dollar has been known for decades. Of course, there are always doubts that all 316,076 coins were melted down, and some collectors still speculate about finding such a rarity. The topic of a 1964 Morgan dollar, however, was not believed to be a possibility until this news broke. It is widely being touted as a “numismatic bombshell,” and rightly so.
What We Know
The possibility of a 1964 Morgan dollar stems from the discovery of hubs, dies, and models for this previously unknown coin (both the obverse and reverse designs) at the Philadelphia Mint last summer. Similarly, though far less surprisingly, the hubs and dies for the 1964 Peace dollar were also found. Unfortunately, no actual coins were found.
The revelatory 1964 Morgan silver dollar may well have met the same fate as its Peace dollar counterpart. It’s still unclear whether or not any of these coins were actually issued (and subsequently destroyed) or if the dies and hubs discovered at the mint were simply never put to official use.
Over the years, there have been many enterprising criminals that have produced forgeries of the 1964 Peace dollar in order to dupe excited collectors. Beware of the same tricks being used now that this story about the possible 1964 Morgan dollar is making the rounds.
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The opinions and forecasts herein are provided solely for informational purposes, and should not be used or construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any product.
Sources
http://www.smitherspira.com/news/2016/august/banknotes-consumption-to-remain-vital
PCGS-Certified Morgan Dollars Currently Available on eBay
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Congrats to Dave Bowers for discovering yet another fascinating numismatic news story. Looking forward to reading the book.
I have a 1964 Morgan silver dolloar. Brand new.
No…… you have a replica 1964 Morgan Dollar
Try and spend it. You have been duped by carefully constructed TV and magazine ads into thinking that there were found in the 9/11 rubble of WTF towers 1 and 2 rare dollar coins. They are only “clad” in silver they are nor the 90% Silver coins the US Mint has produced or the 99.9% Silver coins produced by the Royal Canadian mint. I always wondered who buys this worthless junk.
Thanks to the magical place called the internet you can own a 1964 morgan, 1964,1965, and 1966 peace dollars.
You can own “what-if” fantasy pieces …
How can I recognize a true 1964 Morgan silver dollar?
A magnet.
I was told all the 1964 Morgan silver dollars were all melted down except a handful that was givin to the people who worked in the mint??? Is that a possibility? I’m looking at a 1964 Morgan silver dollar and it doesn’t say copy anywhere and a magnet doesn’t stick to it. Is the fakes pure silver? I was told alot about this coin but I want to get my own answers. Any help would be appreciated, thanks thanks
Hi Lyndol,
Please send good quality pictures of your coin (the higher the resolution the better) to [email protected].
I do have a mint 1964 coin also.