A Numismatic Detective Story: Unraveling a Numismatic Myth

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Left: reverse of the 1890 U.S. Assay Commission Medal. Right: reverse of the 1920 Manila Mint Opening Commemorative Medal.

Mintage 2,200 Silver (HK-449), 3,700 Bronze (HK-450), and between 5 and 15 Gold (HK-1031). The surviving number of Wilson Dollars particularly in mint state is much less as many specimens were lost during WWII. When Japan invaded the Philippines in 1942 the U.S. government dumped 16 million Pesos in silver coins into Manila Bay to prevent it's seizure by the Japanese. Many Silver and Bronze Wilson Dollars were included in this dumping. Although many of these coins and medals were salvaged after the war the majority are heavily corroded from their long immersion in salt water.

All Wilson Dollars are scarce particularily in true Mint State. According to NGC and PCGS online population reports (3/10/2014) NGC and PCGS combined have only certified 120 Silver and 22 Bronze Wilson Dollars in MS60 and above.

NGC Population: 32/57
PCGS Population:4/17


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Slot: 1919 U.S. ASSAY COMMISSION MEDAL - BRONZE Origin/Country: United States Design Description: U.S. MINT MEDALS - JULIAN Item Description: BRONZE AE 1919 JK-AC-63 U.S. ASSAY COMMISSION ""JOHN W. HECK"" ON EDGE Grade: NGC MS 64 Research: View Coin Owner Comments 1919 Assay Commission Medal. Bronze. 51 mm. By George T. Morgan and John R. Sinnock. JK AC-63. Rarity-5. Edge Incuse JOHN W. HECK. MS-64 (NGC). Obv: bust left of President Woodrow Wilson; Rev: caped god of commerce Mercury, wearing winged Petasos, ancient coin of Cnidus or Leontini at left. This handsome example displays subtle blue-gray peripheral highlights on dominant antique golden-bronze surfaces. Closer inspection reveals remnants of original rose-orange luster in the protected areas around and within Wilson's portrait. A few faint, well scattered carbon spots are all that seem to preclude a full Gem rating. The original recipient of this medal, John W. Heck of Jersey City, New Jersey, was appointed to the 1919 Assay Commission by President Woodrow Wilson. On the commission, Heck served on the Committee on Weighing. NGC Population: 2/0 (4/20/2019) PCGS Population: 0/1 Combined NGC/PCGS Population: 1/1	Slot: 1920 U.S. ASSAY COMMISSION MEDAL - BRONZE Origin/Country: United States Design Description: U.S. MINT MEDALS - JULIAN Item Description: BRONZE AE 1920 JK-AC-64 U.S. ASSAY COMMISSION Grade: NGC MS 66 Research: View Coin Owner Comments 1920 Assay Commission Medal. Bronze. 51 mm. By George T. Morgan. JK AC-64. Rarity-5. MS-66 (NGC). An outstanding example of the type, finer than the specimen offered as lot 5313 in Stack's November 2008 sale of the Ernest E. Keusch Collection of United States Assay Medals, 1860-1977. Antique golden-bronze patina adorns surfaces that are smooth and satiny. Fully deserving of the premium Gem grade from NGC. The 1920 Assay Commission medal features the same obverse as the 1919 medal, but the reverse shows armored Liberty seated with sword reversed, holding an olive branch. With the reverse inscriptions VICTORY and PEACE, the 1920 Assay Commission medal is the series' equivalent of the Peace silver dollar of 1921 to 1935, which was also produced in commemoration of the return of peace after the end of World War I. Thirty bronze examples of this medal were produced on February 17, 1920, but so popular was the reverse design among contemporary Americans that the Mint struck an additional 40 or 50 pieces later in the year. By far the finer of the two examples of the type currently (4/1/2016) certified by NGC (the other example is an MS-62). NGC Population: 1/0 PCGS Population: 0/0 Combined NGC/PCGS Population: 1/0 SINGLE FINEST CERTIFIED EXAMPLE OF JK-AC-64	Slot: 1921 U.S. ASSAY COMMISSION MEDAL - BRONZE Origin/Country: United States Design Description: U.S. MINT MEDALS - JULIAN Item Description: BRONZE AE 1921 JK-AC-65 U.S. ASSAY COMMISSION MR.JUDSON BRENNER ON EDGE Grade: NGC MS 66 Research: View Coin Owner Comments 1921 Assay Commission Medal. Bronze. 51 mm. By George T. Morgan. JK-AC-65. Rarity-5. MS 66 (NGC). Edge inscribed to recipient, MR. JUDSON BRENNER. Even golden-brown patina provides strong eye appeal. This is the last medallic appearance of Woodrow Wilson, now incapacitated by his stroke of September 25, 1919. Warren G. Harding was not yet in office and Wilson's second wife, Edith Galt Wilson, was in effect standing-in for the disabled president when the Mint made the decision to recycle her husband's bust from the 1920 medal. Brenner, who at one time served as president of the American Numismatic Association, was one of the leading figures in the hobby in the early 20th century. The finer of the two examples of the type currently (4/1/2016) certified by NGC (the other example is an MS-65). NGC Population: 1/0 PCGS Population: 0/0 Combined NGC/PCGS Population (4/1/2016): 1/0 SINGLE FINEST CERTIFIED EXAMPLE OF JK-AC-65
Slot: 1920 MANILA MINT OPENING MEDAL - SILVER Origin/Country: United States PHILIPPINES Design Description: Item Description: SILVER SC$1 1920 HK-449 WILSON DOLLAR MANILA MINT OPENING MANILA MINT OPENING Grade: NGC MS 62 Research: View Coin Owner Comments So-Called Dollar, 1920 (M) HK-449 Wilson Dollar. Silver 38.2mm, 440 grains, medal commemorating the opening of the Manila Mint. Dies for the " Wilson Dollar" were cut by by George Morgan, who was the Mint's Chief Engraver in 1920, and who was also responsible for the U.S. Morgan Silver Dollar. The obverse presents a well executed portrait of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. The reverse shows a representation of "Juno Moneta" (the goddess of money and minting) kneeling and watching over a nude youth who is pouring planchets (coin blanks) into a coining press. The design used is a modification of a much earlier Morgan design that was used on several of the U.S. Assay Commissions Annual Medals in the 1880s and 1890s.
Slot: 1920 MANILA MINT OPENING MEDAL - BRONZE Origin/Country: United States PHILIPPINES Design Description: So-Called Dollars Item Description: BRONZE SC$1 1920 HK-450 WILSON DOLLAR MANILA MINT OPENING EX. DR. GREGORY PINEDA Grade: NGC UNC DETAILS Research: View Coin Owner Comments So-Called Dollar, 1920 (M) HK-450 Wilson Dollar. Bronze 38.2mm, medal commemorating the "Opening of the Manila Mint". The Bronze medal commemorating the "Opening of the Manila Mint" was struck at the U.S. Manila Mint in mid-July 1920. Speaker Osmena of the Filipino House of Representatives struck off the first medal during the July 15, 1920 opening day ceremony and 2000 specimens were struck on the first day. Up to 3700 Bronze Medals were produced and sold for fifty cents at the time of issue. Many of the Bronze medals went unsold for years and were still in the Philippine Treasury at the outbreak of WWII. When Japan invaded the Philippines the Commonwealth government moved the contents of the Philippine Treasury from Manila to the island fortress of Corregidor. Prior to the fall of Corregidor 16 million Pesos in silver coins and many Silver and Bronze Wilson Dollars were dumped into Manila Bay to prevent there seizure by the Japanese. Although many of these coins and medals were salvaged after the war the majority are heavily corroded from their long immersion in salt water. Bronze Wilson Dollars in a high state of preservation are much scarcer than the Silver medals. NGC and PCGS combined have only certified 22 Bronze Wilson dollars in MS60 and above. Unfortunately population reports for details graded coins are not available. This attractive specimen from the Dr. Gregory Pineda Philippine Collection is 90% red with a touch of iridescent blue toning.